Damon Hill has suggested that Red Bull should consider putting Nico Hulkenberg in the car alongside Max Verstappen next season. The Sauber veteran has enjoyed an exceptional campaign, scoring his first-ever F1 podium and sitting ninth in the point standings heading into the Mexican Grand Prix.
As things stand, all reports point to Isack Hadjar becoming Verstappen’s team-mate in 2026. After all, the rookie is only two points behind Hulkenberg in the standings, has also scored a podium this season, and has consistently outshone team-mate Liam Lawson.
Then there is the question of Yuki Tsunoda’s future. Red Bull’s incumbent driver has endured an extremely tough season since replacing Lawson after just two Grands Prix, but his form has started to show signs of life in the past month. The Japanese racer has scored points in three of the last five rounds, including in both races in Austin last weekend.
However, according to the 1996 world champion Hill, neither should be the driver to partner Verstappen in 2026. “I know that’s real chagrin, isn’t it?” he told Harry Benjamin on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.
“I mean, what a great result, though, fourth in the Sprint qualifying. So, the old dog, he’s still got the opportunity. He’s still showing… what would happen if you put him in a front-running car?”
Co-host Benjamin then suggested him for the Red Bull seat, to which Hill replied: “Yeah, I mean, why not? Why not? I mean, if I were running Red Bull, I’d go, let’s give him a go. Come on. I think he gets on well with Max as well, doesn’t he?”
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.
While the 38-year-old Hulkenberg is unlikely to get the nod from Helmut Marko ahead of his in-house options, the Red Bull advisor is close to making a decision. The Milton Keynes squad are expected to decide their driver pairings after this weekend’s Mexican GP.
Hulkenberg, meanwhile, has his own exciting project to look forward to as Audi completes their long-awaited operational takeover of the Sauber squad. “It’s such a reset and a white piece of paper that everyone starts from,” he said earlier this year, looking ahead to the new regulations.
“It’s impossible to predict anything. The big four teams have an advantage in terms of infrastructure and all these kinds of things. But it’s a good opportunity, because it is a reset, it is a fresh start for everyone with these new regulations.
“It’s extremely exciting and a good opportunity for everyone, including ourselves. We need to work hard, we need to work focused on it, and hopefully we’ll come out on the right side of it.”