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Follow all the latest F1 news ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi as Red Bull announce their team for next season
Kieran JacksonFormula 1 CorrespondentTuesday 02 December 2025 15:35 GMTComments
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Red Bull have announced their driver line-up for 2026, with Yuki Tsunoda losing his spot in F1.
Max Verstappen’s next teammate will be Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar. The 21-year-old has enjoyed an excellent rookie season in F1 and currently sits 10th in the world championship, and his reward is a step up – or a step into the sport’s poisoned chalice seat, depending on your view.
Liam Lawson is expected to retain his seat in sister team Racing Bulls, with 18-year-old British-Swedish junior driver Arvid Lindblad tipped to make the jump from F2, where he has impressed this year, to F1 and partner the Kiwi next season.
It follows a busy few days for Red Bull, who released a statement on Monday in which they said they “regret” comments after the Qatar Grand Prix which have led to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli receiving death threats on social media.
Follow live build-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with The Independent below:
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- Red Bull confirm 2026 line-up with new Max Verstappen teammate announced
- Isack Hadjar will step up alongside four-time world champion
- Yuki Tsunoda replaced after poor season alongside Verstappen
- British-Swedish starlet poised for major opportunity with Racing Bulls
Hadjar says he is ready to join Red Bull in 'awesome' move
Isack Hadjar said: “I’m so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula One. After all the hard work I have put in since joining the Junior Team, it’s such a great reward. I’ve had many ups and downs throughout my career, and they kept believing and pushing me.
“This year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has been absolutely amazing, I’ve learnt a lot and secured a maiden podium. I feel I’m much better as a racing driver and a person, due to the Team‘s support and preparation. I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud they feel the same.
“It’s an awesome move, to work with the best and learn from Max is something I can’t wait for. “
Isack Hadjar wants to learn from Max Verstappen (Getty Images)Lawrence Ostlere2 December 2025 15:33Hadjar can 'thrive' beside Verstappen, says Mekies
Team Principal Laurent Mekies on Isack Hadjar: “In his first F1 season, he has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport.
“We believe Isack can thrive alongside Max and produce the magic on track! 2026 will be a huge challenge for the Team and for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, these are exciting times, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do together.”
Lawrence Ostlere2 December 2025 15:25Red Bull thank 'complete racer' Tsunoda
Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “Yuki has raced in Red Bull colours for seven years now and I have had the pleasure of working with him at both Red Bull teams.
“Through his five seasons so far in Formula One, Yuki has matured into a complete racer, good over a single lap on Saturday and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday.
“Everyone in the sport would agree it is impossible not to like Yuki, his personality is infectious, and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family.
“On behalf of everyone at Red Bull, I thank him for what he has contributed so far and we know he will provide invaluable support to the 2026 projects moving forwards.”
Lawrence Ostlere2 December 2025 15:19Tsunoda relegated to reserve driver role in 2026
Red Bull also confirm that Yuki Tsunoda will be a “test and reserve driver” for 2026.
It has been a tough season for the Japanese driver (Getty Images)Lawrence Ostlere2 December 2025 15:12Confirmed! Isack Hadjar to drive Red Bull next season
Red Bull release a statement which confirms the news: “Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen to form the Team’s 2026 driver line-up.”
More to follow...
Isack Hadjar will step up to Red Bull next season (Getty)Lawrence Ostlere2 December 2025 15:07Aston Martin, McLaren to replace drivers in Abu Dhabi
Aston Martin have said Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be replaced by rookie drivers for FP1 in Abu Dhabi.
Alonso will swap out for British driver Cian Shields while Jak Crawford will replace Stroll for the session.
McLaren will also have a rookie driver in FP1, with Oscar Piastri giving way, most likely for Pato O’Ward.
Flo Clifford2 December 2025 15:00How can Lando Norris win the 2025 F1 world championship?
It is a normal race weekend in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, Norris will win the world championship if he finishes on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A minimum third place (15 points) in Abu Dhabi would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead.
Flo Clifford2 December 2025 14:40How can Oscar Piastri win the 2025 F1 world championship?
Piastri has a difficult task now. Put simply: he needs to score 17 more points than Norris and five more points than Verstappen to guarantee the title. At a minimum, he must finish in second place or higher to have a chance.
What could this look like in reality? If Piastri wins the grand prix, Norris would have to finish in sixth place or lower and Verstappen in second place or lower.
If Piastri finishes second, he’d need Norris to finish ninth or lower and Verstappen to finish fourth or lower. If Piastri finishes third or lower, he will not win the championship.
(Getty)Flo Clifford2 December 2025 14:21How can Max Verstappen win the 2025 F1 world championship?
Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who is now in second place. Piastri is a further four points back, 16 off his teammate.
It is a normal race weekend in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, Norris will win the world championship if he finishes on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A minimum third place (15 points) in Abu Dhabi would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead.
Fourth place (12 points) would give Norris a 24-point lead and, thus, if Verstappen then won the race, the Dutchman would take the title by one point.
Alternatively, put simply, Verstappen needs to score 13 more points than Norris.
Flo Clifford2 December 2025 14:00F1 standings after Qatar GP as Max Verstappen closes gap on Lando Norris
Lando Norris has seen his lead in the F1 driver’s world championship cut to 12 points after Max Verstappen triumphed in a highly dramatic Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday night.
Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri got their strategy wrong during a safety car period at the start of the race, when they failed to stop and change tyres in what was a mandatory two-stop grand prix.
When Norris eventually went into the pits for a second time, the British driver came back on track in fifth place, though he managed to overtake Kimi Antonelli in the closing stages and finished in fourth.
That means the title will be decided in Abu Dhabi with all three of Norris, Piastri and Verstappen in with a chance of claiming the crown. Norris’s lead is 12 points to Verstappen, with Piastri a further four points behind.
Here’s how the standings look after the Qatar GP
F1 standings after Qatar GP as Max Verstappen closes gap on Lando Norris
Verstappen capitalised on an early safety car to win the race in Qatar Flo Clifford2 December 2025 13:40Newer1 / 3OlderMore about
Max VerstappenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMcLarenQatar Grand PrixAbu Dhabi Grand PrixRed BullKimi AntonelliYuki TsunodaIsack HadjarmercedesLiam LawsonArvid LindbladJoin our commenting forum
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