Purple Bull could also be planning a whole overhaul of its junior group Racing Bulls’ driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season, it has been claimed.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Simon Lazenby mentioned there have been “early whispers” that the Racing Bulls might welcome a brand new driver in 2026.
Talking on the most recent episode of the Sky F1 Podcast, Lazenby mentioned: “I really feel like there have been early whispers that there is likely to be two new drivers becoming a member of the Racing Bulls subsequent yr.”
The Racing Bulls have but to announce their 2026 F1 driver lineup.
Izak Hajar is anticipated to be promoted to Purple Bull alongside Max Verstappen.
The way forward for Hiroki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson stays unsure.
Tsunoda has been in poor kind since becoming a member of Purple Bull to switch Lawson.
His in depth expertise in F1 – he made his debut with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2021 – means he not matches the profile as a driver for Purple Bull’s junior group.
Lawson has proven explosive tempo since returning to the Racing Bulls.
Nonetheless, he proved unable to be Verstappen’s teammate within the first group.
Extra importantly, Lawson has been shedding to rookie teammate Hajar all yr.
In consequence, Purple Bull could select to area two new junior drivers within the second group.
On the finish of 2011, Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari each left for the following season.
They had been finally changed by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.
Three-time W Collection champion Jamie Chadwick believes it is sensible to make two adjustments as Purple Bull are “looking for the following Verstappen”.
“I believe they may do this, and in the event that they do, I believe it is clear that it is as a result of they’re at all times looking for the following Max Verstappen,” Chadwick mentioned.
“They do not need to discover the following quantity two driver or an general strong driver. They need to discover the following famous person of F1. For my part, if they simply hold the identical line-up as they’ve, they need to know that these two drivers can’t be drivers for Purple Bull Racing.”
“They don’t seem to be going to be a driver that is inside a tenth of Max. That is the driving force they actually need. Ought to they simply strive one thing new and herald somebody new, a younger driver? Perhaps they’re going to discover (one thing like) Isaac Hajjar from the Racing Bulls.”
What about Alex Dunn?
Final week it was introduced that Alex Dunn had parted methods with McLaren.
alex dunn
Dan is a part of the junior program and took half in two FP1 classes with the group earlier this yr.
Helmut Marko has already confirmed that Purple Bull are in talks with Dunn.
Ted Kravitz speculates that Dunn might make his F1 debut subsequent yr.
“There was good discuss Alex Dunn being picked up by Purple Bull after being launched from McLaren’s younger driver program,” Kravitz mentioned.
“Whether or not which means Arvid Lindblad takes one other yr in F2, Alex Dunne at Racing Bulls, Isaac Hajjar at Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda goes to Aston Martin as reserve driver…”
