Who will line up alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026? Helmut Marko reveals when the official announcement will come
Every year it’s the same story. The announcement from Red Bull regarding who will partner Max Verstappen is always one of the most anticipated of the Formula 1 season, and 2026 will be no different. The Milton Keynes-based team must make the best decision after the struggles experienced so far this championship by Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Neither the New Zealander nor the Japanese driver have been able to match the pace of Verstappen, who once again has demonstrated his ability to elevate the car’s performance well beyond its baseline level.
Here’s when Red Bull’s decision will arrive
Making a wrong choice is something Red Bull cannot afford, especially with the debut of the new technical regulations imminent. Following the departures of Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, Red Bull must prove it can remain competitive without two of the key figures of recent years.
But to find out who will be Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2026, fans will have to wait a little longer. Helmut Marko confirmed this after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which saw both Red Bull drivers struggle on track.
“Usually, we make the decision after the summer break,” the Austrian super advisor said. “At the moment, everything is still open and nothing has been decided. Obviously, we are looking at our drivers’ performances, both the positives and the negatives.”
“Whoever is placed alongside Max has to stop trying to beat him. Their goal must be to do the best possible for themselves and for the team. At the moment, it’s impossible to beat Verstappen.”
“Right now, there is Yuki, who has always been strongly supported by Honda. Now that they are moving to Aston Martin, we will carefully evaluate the situation together and decide what to do next,” Helmut Marko added.
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