Red Bull's Decision to Promote Hadjar Over Tsunoda Garners Overwhelming Fan Support
Red Bull has announced Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. This decision has received overwhelming support from fans, with over 50% backing the promotion of Hadjar, whose impressive rookie season made him a clear favorite. Tsunoda will transition to a reserve and test driver role, while Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will race for the sister Racing Bulls team.
Formula 1 fans have overwhelmingly backed Red Bull's decision to promote Isack Hadjar to partner Max Verstappen next season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. The move, announced on Tuesday afternoon, sees Hadjar transition from Racing Bulls to Red Bull for the 2026 season, coinciding with new power unit regulations.
Why it matters:
Red Bull's driver lineup for 2026 has been a hot topic, and this decision signifies a clear shift towards nurturing new talent within their ecosystem. The fan reaction, as highlighted by a significant poll, suggests strong public alignment with Red Bull's long-term strategic vision for its main team, prioritizing future potential over retaining an established, but perhaps plateauing, talent.
The details:
- Isack Hadjar's promotion to Red Bull for the 2026 season was confirmed, where he will partner Max Verstappen.
- Yuki Tsunoda will not retain his seat at Red Bull and also failed to secure a spot at the sister team, Racing Bulls. The Racing Bulls' 2026 lineup will feature Liam Lawson and current Red Bull junior and F2 driver Arvid Lindblad.
- Tsunoda will, however, remain with Red Bull as a reserve and test driver for the 2026 season, indicating he is still valued within the wider Red Bull family.
- Hadjar's promotion was widely anticipated, following what has been described as an 'incredible rookie season' in F1.
- Throughout his debut campaign, Hadjar has consistently made Q3 sessions and has been a key contributor to Racing Bulls' efforts to secure sixth place in the Constructors' standings.
By the numbers:
A recent poll conducted by RacingNews365 revealed strong fan approval for Red Bull's decision:
- 50.69% of respondents voted that Hadjar's promotion was the correct choice.
- Only 18.83% believed that Tsunoda should have been retained in the main Red Bull squad.
- A smaller, but notable, 12.43% suggested that Liam Lawson should have been given a second chance alongside Verstappen.
What's next:
This strategic move underscores Red Bull's commitment to its junior driver program and its proactive approach to the upcoming 2026 regulations. While Tsunoda's future as a full-time F1 driver remains uncertain beyond his reserve role, Hadjar now faces the immense challenge and opportunity of stepping into one of F1's most coveted seats. His performance in the lead-up to 2026 will be closely watched as Red Bull aims to maintain its competitive edge with a fresh driver pairing.