Why Racing Bulls is delaying its 2026 Formula 1 lineup announcement. Alan Permane explains why the team is delaying the announcement of its 2026 F1 driver lineup.

The official Racing Bulls driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season remains a mystery. Team Principal Alan Permane has finally explained why the announcement is being delayed and when fans can expect to hear the news. Market rumours currently suggest that Isack Hadjar could be promoted to Red Bull, with Arvid Lindblad stepping in as his replacement in the sister team. The second seat appears to be a battle between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.

Permane has now clarified the reasons behind the long wait before revealing the team’s two drivers for next year.

“You might not find out until after Abu Dhabi”

In an interview reported by Motorsport.com, Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane addressed the 2026 driver situation. He began by making it clear that the delayed announcement has nothing to do with the incoming 2026 regulations.

“No, absolutely not. It has nothing to do with the new rules,” Alan Permane said. “We’re in a very tight battle ourselves for sixth place, but Red Bull is also fighting a very close constructors’ championship battle for second place.

We just want a bit of stability, and this could go on until the end of the season. So you might not find out until Monday morning after Abu Dhabi.

I don’t know exactly when it will be, but that’s the reason. It has nothing to do with next year’s regulations.”

Alan Permane added that the team is also considering profiles with more “experience”, similar to what Williams has opted for.

“You always want the experienced driver. Look at James [Vowles at Williams] with his two very experienced drivers: almost every weekend they are immediately competitive.

And that doesn’t take anything away from our guys, but experience always counts. Of course, nothing beats speed. So you need that pace. It will certainly help for next year.

On the other hand, you could say that everyone will be starting from a blank sheet.

No one has experience with these regulations. So I suspect there will be a huge amount of simulator work, as is already happening now, and once the season ends, it will increase even more. So yes, it’s definitely important.”