There are four seats left on the 2026 F1 grid. Who will win that seat?

There are simply 4 seats left after Mercedes confirmed it has finalized its 2026 F1 driver line-up.

Mercedes’ announcement on Wednesday that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli would stay on the crew for 2026 got here as a shock to nobody, however consideration has now shifted to the only real remaining driver for subsequent season.

Crimson Bull may have the largest say in what the remainder of the grid appears like in 2026, with one seat open for the senior crew and two seats open for sister crew Racing Bulls, whereas Alpine is left with a lone seat.

However who will take the final seat on provide in F1 in 2026?

pink bull

Regardless of his current progress, Hiroki Tsunoda is assumed to not have achieved sufficient to proceed driving Crimson Bull alongside Max Verstappen subsequent yr.

The Japanese driver took the seat for Liam Lawson simply three races into the 2025 season, however did not reside as much as expectations and solely marginally outperformed his predecessor, who returned to Racing Bulls after a disastrously quick stint with Crimson Bull.

Tsunoda has not been in a position to get the very best out of his teammates, a four-time world champion, and is predicted to be let go. It will not assist his trigger that main supporter Honda will depart Crimson Bull on the finish of the yr.

Isaac Hajar is the clear favourite to interchange Tsunoda within the Crimson Bull scorching seat after a superb season in rookie F1.

The 20-year-old Frenchman is ninth within the Drivers’ Championship with 39 factors, with a formidable third place and first podium at Zandvoort, an impressive end in his first season of Grand Prix racing to this point.

Crimson Bull have repeatedly insisted they may give Tsunoda extra time to show himself, however many within the F1 paddock consider this can be a completed deal.

racing bulls

It is much less clear what is going to occur with Crimson Bull’s sister crew Racing Bulls, however Hajjar’s promotion appears sure, with each seats set to stay vacant in 2026.

Crimson Bull junior and F2 front-runner Arvid Lindblad is closely rumored to take one of many Racing Bulls seats.

If that occurs, the opposite seat will seemingly be a direct battle between Tsunoda and Lawson.

Former McLaren junior Alex Dunne was rumored as an out of doors wager to affix Racing Bulls, however Crimson Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has urged the 19-year-old Irishman is now not an possibility.

Marko additionally revealed Crimson Bull plans to decide after subsequent weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix. This implies the following two races are extraordinarily vital for each Tsunoda and Lawson.

Takayama

The one different propulsion drive obtainable in 2026 is Alpine, which is at the moment contemplating the choice of partnering with Pierre Gasly.

Franco Colapinto changed the underperforming Jack Doohan at Imola, however did not reside as much as supervisor Flavio Briatore’s expectations. The Argentine remains to be combating for his future, though he has but to attain any factors because the begin of 2025.

F1’s underground groups look like adjusting their inner choices, with reserve driver Paul Aaron, who has appeared in a number of free practices this season, additionally into account. Doohan, who stays as reserve driver, is just not anticipated to get one other probability.

Alpine has time, so there isn’t a must rush into making selections. If Tsunoda is completely launched from Crimson Bull, he may emerge as a back-up possibility with former AlphaTauri teammate Gasly.

The French producer may additionally look to the following crop of latest expertise and think about swooping in an F2 star like championship chief Leonardo Fornaroli or the aforementioned Dunn.