Red Bull to name 2026 driver lineup before Abu Dhabi finale

Red Bull will announce its 2026 driver lineup before the season finale in Abu Dhabi, team principal Laurent Mekies said, as Yuki Tsunoda fights to retain a seat amid competition from promising juniors. Mekies confirmed the decision will come before the final race on December 7 and said the team has delayed making a choice partly because Tsunoda's recent form has improved.

Tsunoda, who has driven for Red Bull since a swap with Liam Lawson early in the 2025 season, finished 11th at the Mexico City Grand Prix after a slow pit stop and a race strategy that left him in traffic. The Japanese driver had run well in the opening stint and spent much of the afternoon on defensive duty, helping protect Max Verstappen's race. Speaking after the race, Tsunoda said, "I still want it," and added that he is concentrating on controlling what he can, including qualifying and race pace.

Mekies described the Mexico weekend as a step forward for Tsunoda and cited his qualifying and first‑stint pace relative to Verstappen as evidence of progress. "Yuki had his best weekend in a long time," Mekies said, adding that a long pit stop cost the team points Tsunoda could otherwise have scored. He emphasized...