Red Bull weigh up potential candidates if Max Verstappen faces F1 race ban
MAX VERSTAPPEN is just one point away from a race ban after ramming into George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix last time out.
The Dutchman must be on his best behaviour in the next two races in Canada and Austria before two points are wiped from his license.
He was slapped with his first two penalty points in the current rolling 12-month period after last year’s Austrian Grand Prix on June 30.
He collided with Norris on 30 June, and even after those points expire this year he will still be three points away from suspension.
Verstappen will be teetering on the edge of a ban until after the Mexican Grand Prix on 27 October having pushed Norris off the track in last year’s race there.
There has been wide speculation over who will step into the Red Bull hot seat if the Dutchman is suspended, so SunSport gives you everything you need to know on the potential candidates.
ISACK HADJAR
The French-Algerian 20-year-old has impressed in his rookie campaign for Racing Bulls.
He has enjoyed a meteoric rise from being left in tears in the season opener in Melbourne after crashing in the rain on the formation lap.
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Since then he has finished in the points in five of the nine races this season and and secured a glittering fifth in qualifying in the Monaco show piece.
The last rookie to achieve that feat was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
It is early days yet but Hadjar’s aggressive driving style has been compared to Verstappen’s fierce approach.
He also tested the 2024 car and found it “comfortable” rather than tricky like many others who have sat in the Red Bull cockpit.
When Red Bull boss Christian Horner was asked about Hadjar, he said: “I think he’s been the most outstanding rookie. He’s exceeded all of our expectations.
“He’s been fast, consistent, and constantly delivered. His future, if he keeps performing as he is, is very bright.”
LIAM LAWSON
The Kiwi 23-year-old isn’t completely off the radar despite suffering a woeful TWO-RACE stint as a Red Bull driver at the start of this season.
He suffered three early exits in all three qualifying sessions, including the sprint, and didn’t bag a single point before being turfed out to Racing Bulls for Yuki Tsunoda.
However, Lawson has experience with this season’s car and that could boost his credentials when weighing up the options for a one-off race.
Things are looking up for the Racing Bulls driver too with him securing his first points in Monaco.
DANIEL RICCIARDO
This is a huge blast from the past but Aussie maestro Ricciardo, 35, is a wild shout to fill in for Verstappen.
Afterall, he is an experienced, senior head in the paddock, remains a favourite of Horner and has bags of experience with the team.
Ricciardo knows the team inside and out, having spent two seasons with the junior side before enjoying five years as a Red Bull driver.
He won seven grands prix racing alongside both Red Bull legends Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Horner bought him back into the Red Bull family at the end of 2023 with the then-junior team Alpha Tauri before he was dropped for Liam Lawson the following year.
AYUMU IWASA
The Japanese Super Formula driver has been part of the team’s junior drivers’ programme since 2021.
Marko said at the start of the season: “We have Ayumu Iwasa as our reserve driver” with the 23-year-old an F3 and F2 race winner.
It is a big shout for him to replace Verstappen for a one-off race though with his more likely destination being a stand in driver for Racing Bulls.
He filled in for Verstappen in FP1 at this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, and made his Racing Bulls debut in practise in Suzuka last year.
ARVID LINDBLAD
The 17-year-old Brit is a future star of Red Bull, having been with the team for four-years.
He continues to make waves this season, making his debut in F2 for Camps Racing, as part of Red Bull’s junior team.
He stood on top of the podium this season for the Saudi Arabian sprint race and in Spain last time out.
It would still be a huge step up to be thrust into the Red Bull seat and his age is also a barrier.
The FIA announced in 2016 that an F1 driver must be at least 18 unless they are “judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition”.
Earlier this year Helmut Marko revealed they had applied for an exemption from the FIA’s ruling that drivers under the age of 18 are not eligible to receive a super license.
They want to promote Lindblad to official reserve driver status so he may be well be on the F1 grid soon.