Red Bull has decided to wait longer before confirming its Formula 1 driver line-ups for 2026. The team had originally planned to name Max Verstappen’s new team-mate after the Mexican Grand Prix, but that plan has now changed.

Team advisor Helmut Marko explained to Motorsport.com that Red Bull has delayed the decision so the team can fully focus on the championship fight. “We postponed our decision until the end of the season, because first we want to focus on the championship fight,” he said. “It will be around Abu Dhabi. We will just focus on the championship first.”

There has been strong speculation that Isack Hadjar will be promoted to the main Red Bull team to partner Verstappen, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. If that happens, Verstappen would have his fourth different team-mate in just over a year. However, Red Bull team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies told The Race that Tsunoda is still in contention after showing good form in Mexico. “Yuki is making steps forward, and that’s one of the reasons why we want to take a bit more time before we make a decision on the drivers,” Mekies said.

Tsunoda came close to Verstappen’s qualifying pace in Mexico, missing out by just two-tenths of a second, and looked set for a top-10 finish before a slow pit stop cost him points. “He was very, very close in quali to Max,” Mekies said. “The first stint was very strong as well, just two or three tenths from Max on the same tyres.”

There is also uncertainty around Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls. The team has yet to confirm whether Tsunoda or Liam Lawson will drive there next year, or if one of them will be paired with rookie Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad impressed the team during his Formula 1 practice debut in Mexico, driving Verstappen’s car. Mekies praised the 18-year-old’s calm performance, saying, “He did a great job. He was very calm, gave all the right feedback, and didn’t put a foot wrong.”

For now, Red Bull says it is in “no rush” to decide. Mekies added, “We have no reasons to pressure the decision, so we will take a bit more time.” All the drivers are under Red Bull contracts, so the company can reshuffle them between the two teams as it sees fit.

Behind the scenes, Hadjar is still the favourite to move up to Red Bull Racing, while Lindblad looks likely to get a Racing Bulls seat. That leaves one final place still open, with Tsunoda and Lawson both fighting to keep their spots.

Red Bull aims to make its final decisions before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it’s unclear if they’ll announce them publicly before then. For now, the team’s attention remains on Verstappen’s title challenge and finishing the season as strongly as possible.