Source:REUTERS/United States
[Saba Sports News] According to GPBlog, there has been much speculation lately: if Red Bull Racing drops Yuki Tsunoda, who will become Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2026? The report states that “multiple sources” have told the Indianapolis Star that Red Bull Racing is surprisingly in talks with current IndyCar champion Alex Palou. The main candidate previously discussed was the current Scuderia AlphaTauri rookie Isack Hadjar. The French-Algerian driver is mentally strong, shows exceptional skill and remarkable adaptability, and has been impressively fast since his debut, making him the top choice from the Red Bull junior driver pool. However, Spanish champion Palou, since his fallout with McLaren over an F1 seat, has consistently stated his desire to remain in IndyCar, saying he would “rather fight for championships here than score points in F1.” The Indianapolis Star subsequently contacted Palou himself, his management, and even his Chip Ganassi Racing team for comment. If the rumors are true, all parties involved denied knowledge of any so-called ongoing talks between Red Bull Racing and Palou. The website added that if this deal were to happen, there is a clause in Palou’s contract with Chip Ganassi Racing that allows for his release upon payment of a significant buyout fee.