Red Bull to finalize its 2026 driver lineups in Abu Dhabi.

      Dr. Helmut Marko has stated that Red Bull will announce their long-anticipated driver decisions for 2026 at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, contrary to earlier indications that the announcement would be made in Mexico. Marko mentioned to Kleine Zeitung, "We have options on all drivers and will make our decision in Abu Dhabi. We will closely monitor the upcoming races before deciding."

      The 82-year-old Austrian reportedly leans towards promoting Isack Hadjar to take over Yuki Tsunoda’s position at Red Bull Racing, although team principal Laurent Mekies and Red Bull GmbH head Oliver Mintzlaff are said to be considering extending Tsunoda's contract for another year.

      Hadjar, who is making a strong debut with Racing Bulls, expressed that he is not concerned about the wait. He remarked at Interlagos, "To be honest, it's something I'm accustomed to. I’ve never had a contract signed or an announcement made before the end of the season throughout my career. I always have to focus and keep pushing until the very last lap. This isn't new for me, and that’s the way things are with Red Bull."

      Despite a widely circulated video showing Tsunoda lost at Sao Paulo airport without a team representative, he asserts that he remains focused and self-assured. "In the last two weekends, the car has felt excellent in terms of race pace," he explained. "I’m running very close to Max, and I feel confident in the car and the updates we've made."

      Meanwhile, Liam Lawson, whose journey this season has been turbulent at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls, might find himself sidelined in Formula 1 with Arvid Lindblad possibly taking his place. "We all know that decisions are approaching as the year comes to an end," Lawson commented at Interlagos. "However, the message to us has consistently been to perform. That’s what I am trying to do, and that will determine what happens next year."

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"I have some excellent options available." Mick Schumacher has stated that he has not yet made a decision regarding whether his racing career will continue in endurance racing or move to IndyCar, as Alpine seeks clarity on his plans for 2026. During an interview with Speed Week at the World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain, the 26-year-old confessed: "I still need to determine what I want to do in 2026. I have choices—except for Formula 1. I have some excellent options on the table." Schumacher has spent two seasons with Alpine in the WEC but has recently completed a promising test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in IndyCar, which has sparked speculation about a potential move to the US series. "It was a lot of fun," he remarked about the test. "The car felt like an accelerated Formula 2 car with superior tires. The atmosphere was great—the people at RLL are very skilled and approachable. I was impressed by the Americans’ enthusiasm for motorsport." "I’ve always enjoyed single-seaters, so an IndyCar season is a strong possibility. However, I’ve also settled in well at Alpine—these two years have been enjoyable. It would be ideal to have clarity and a contract by the end of the year." Nonetheless, Alpine appears to be growing impatient. Team principal Philippe Sinault was quoted by TZ Munchen: "It’s time for a decision. As you can imagine, we need clarity as soon as possible." Sinault emphasized that the French manufacturer wants to keep Schumacher in its endurance lineup. "He’s truly enjoying his time with us, you can count on that. If he wants to stay, we certainly want to continue with him." Alpine motorsport chief Bruno Famin confirmed that "no decision has been made yet regarding the 2026 driver lineup," as the team balances its WEC program with its Formula 1 obligations. Regarding F1, Schumacher admitted it still resonates with him emotionally. "Of course, Formula 1 is still on my mind," he noted. "And if an opportunity arises, I probably wouldn’t refuse. Formula 1 remains close to my heart." Formula 1 | Pirelli may implement a maximum tyre mileage regulation for the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix due to concerns about a recurrence of the structural failures experienced at Losail last year. (…) Pierre Gasly: The result matches our level. Pierre Gasly finished eighth in the sprint and tenth at the São Paulo Grand Prix, earning Alpine their first two points since the July round in Spa over the weekend.

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