The future plans of Red Bull to rebuild in case Max Verstappen departs have come under scrutiny.
Verstappen is committed to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but there are doubts whether he will see out his contract, sparking debate in the F1 paddock.
When the new regulations come into effect in 2026, Mercedes could emerge as an interesting destination.
Alternatively, Red Bull may choose to look within their pool of talented drivers, which currently includes Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad.
Rachel Brookes, speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, mentioned, “If you look at the performances of Ollie Bearman, and considering that Kimi Antonelli has the Mercedes seat secured for the next year, Hadjar is performing better than both of them.”
She added, “We can’t overlook the talent that exists within their ranks at the moment.”
“However, it’s challenging to evaluate F2 under the new regulations. Many teams have struggled, making it difficult to assess talent like we could in the past with drivers such as Charles Leclerc or George Russell.”
“They have promising talents in Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad. The situation might not be as bleak as it appears.”
“The big question is, who will be the star performer if Max departs? George Russell has another year remaining, so could he potentially move to Red Bull?”
“There are several viable candidates for the No2 seat, but the No1 seat remains uncertain.”
While Red Bull’s second seat is regularly debated, with Sergio Perez likely facing competition in 2025 from Liam Lawson or potentially Yuki Tsunoda, the No1 seat – despite Verstappen’s lengthy contract – will also be closely watched if the F1 champion is lured away.
Red Bull junior driver Hadjar is outshining 2025 F1 drivers Bearman and Antonelli in Formula 2 this season, while Lindblad is making strides in F3.
