Christian Horner is evaluating two driver options as he prepares to make a decision on Max Verstappen’s replacement.
Christian Horner is reportedly weighing up Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar as potential stand-ins for Max Verstappen, should the reigning world champion face a one-race suspension. Verstappen is currently sitting on 11 penalty points—just one short of the 12-point limit that would trigger an automatic ban.
His latest infraction occurred at the Spanish Grand Prix, where, after being instructed to yield position to George Russell, Verstappen made an aggressive move to retake it, making contact with the Mercedes driver. The stewards penalized him with a 10-second time penalty and added three penalty points to his super license.
With two more race weekends to survive before any of those points are cleared, Verstappen is at serious risk. According to PlanetF1, if a ban is enforced, Red Bull plans to select a replacement from within its own ranks, with Lawson and Hadjar—both currently driving for the Racing Bulls—emerging as the top candidates.
Liam Lawson already has some experience driving the RB21, but his disappointing start to the 2025 season would make a comeback to the Red Bull team a difficult task. After just two races, team bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko were compelled to replace him, as the 23-year-old struggled under pressure.
Isack Hadjar also had a rough beginning to his F1 career, crashing on the formation lap of his debut race. However, the French rookie has since turned things around impressively—scoring points in five of the last eight Grands Prix and showcasing impressive pace in qualifying.
This situation could also open the door for a new driver to make their debut with Racing Bulls. While Ayumu Iwasa, the team’s designated reserve driver, has significant mileage in free practice sessions, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are reportedly more inclined to consider Arvid Lindblad—provided the FIA grants him special permission to race at just 17 years old.
Lindblad claimed his first Formula Two feature race victory during the most recent round in Barcelona and has emerged as a strong title contender, having started his rookie season with an impressive streak of 11 straight top-10 finishes.
