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Red Bull weighing up driver’s future after physical endurance tests

Originally posted on HITC | By David Comerford | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 9:08 AM ET

Red Bull expect to finalise their 2026 Formula 1 driver line-ups within the next month, with Max Verstappen currently the only driver under contract for next year.

Laurent Mekies is considering sticking with Yuki Tsunoda, especially after his performance in Azerbaijan. But Helmut Marko appears to favour Isack Hadjar, who’s quietly had the second-best season among Red Bull’s drivers.

Arvid Lindblad is another name to watch. The 18-year-old, currently seventh in Formula 2, looks set for a move up to F1. If that happens, Lawson and Tsunoda may find themselves competing for a single seat at Racing Bulls.

Red Bull use Mugello test to check Arvid Lindblad’s physical readiness

According to Motorsport Italy, Red Bull were at Mugello this week along with Ferrari and Haas. While those teams were focused on Pirelli’s 2026 tyre testing, Red Bull used the session to evaluate Lindblad.

The teenager, who first appeared in FP1 at Silverstone earlier this year, has more sessions lined up before the season ends. He started his 2025 preparations with a run in an older Racing Bulls car at Imola and has been building experience since then.

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing

Though Mugello has only featured once on the F1 calendar back in 2020, Red Bull specifically chose it for a two-day test. They wanted to see how well Lindblad could handle aerodynamic load—a key challenge for new drivers.

The plan was also to gauge his physical endurance. Charles Leclerc once described Mugello as tough on the neck due to its demanding layout. However, heavy rain meant Lindblad couldn’t push as hard through the faster corners as originally hoped.

Lindblad now holds an FIA superlicence exemption, allowing him to step in if needed. The most immediate risk involves Max Verstappen’s current tally of nine penalty points.

Why Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls hopes may be impacted by the Formula 2 schedule

Red Bull are hoping to lock in their line-ups around the time of the USA and Mexico double-header, which falls on October 19th and 26th. Lindblad won’t have another F2 round to make his case before then.

That could put extra importance on how he performed at Mugello, especially as it gave him a chance to show what he can do in wet conditions.

There’s still a chance that Lawson and Tsunoda end up being Racing Bulls’ pairing for 2026. There are questions about whether Lindblad is ready for F1 yet, or if another year in F2 would serve him better.

Lindblad’s Campos team has already signed Nikola Tsolov for next season, which means either Lindblad or his current teammate Pepe Marti will be moving on in some capacity.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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