Thursday paddock notebook: Tsunoda fumes, Hadjar’s reality check, Norris’ quiet ask, and a Toyota-flavoured Haas reboot
Emotions were riding high before engines even fired in Abu Dhabi. Yuki Tsunoda’s future at Red Bull turned from rumour to reality this week, Isack Hadjar pulled the lid off how his promotion actually landed, Lando Norris floated a delicate ask to his teammate on the brink of a title decider, and Haas rolled out a new name with a familiar manufacturer lurking in the background.
Tsunoda, demoted; Hadjar, promoted
Yuki Tsunoda didn’t sugarcoat it. After Red Bull confirmed he’ll move into a test and reserve role for 2026, the Japanese driver admitted he’s “disappointed and p*ssed off.” It’s a gut-punch for a driver who’s carried the Racing Bulls programme on track this season and made a genuine case for the senior seat. But Red Bull’s gone the other way: Isack Hadjar steps up alongside Max Verstappen for the new regs, while Liam Lawson stays at the sister team with Arvid Lindblad graduating from F2.
There’s no question Tsunoda did enough to keep the debate alive. Red Bull, though, made a classic Red Bull call: back the upside, back the pipeline, and live with the turbulence. It’s ruthless. It’s also entirely on brand.
A new era, minus a familiar Horner touch
Hadjar also revealed the promotion didn’t arrive with the once-customary “Welcome to Red Bull Racing” phone call. No dramatic Christian Horner greeting. No bow on top. Just a straight talk with Helmut Marko and the deed was done. With Horner sacked in July after more than two decades at the helm, some of the old theatre is gone. The decisions haven’t slowed, but the style has changed. Less performative, more transactional.
Hadjar vs Max: eyes wide open
To his credit, Hadjar isn’t playing the bravado game. He says he’s prepared to be beaten by Verstappen in 2026 — a tactical acceptance, not an inferiority complex — because going in eyes wide open is better than being “stomped over.” Hard to argue. He’s the fourth different driver to occupy the second Red Bull in under a year after Sergio Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda. The seat eats pressure for breakfast. The trick is to avoid letting it eat your confidence too.
Norris’ ask, Piastri’s call
Up the road at McLaren, Lando Norris kept it honest ahead of the title decider. He’d “love” Oscar Piastri’s help on Sunday if it comes to that — a wingman nudge rather than an outright order — but stressed it’s ultimately “up to Oscar,” who remains mathematically in the fight. The points picture is tight: Norris leads Verstappen by 12, with Piastri just four further back. That’s a scenario that would make any team principal sweat over the group chat.
McLaren’s line this season has been a light touch on team orders, trusting both drivers to manage the big moments. But this is the big moment. If Piastri’s own chance fades in-race, how quickly McLaren pivots from fairness to focus could decide where the trophy lands.
Haas to become TGR Haas F1 in 2026
One for the longer lens: Haas will line up in 2026 with a new badge — TGR Haas F1 — as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s influence ramps up following their technical partnership. Toyota hasn’t been a full entrant since 2009, but the branding step signals a deeper alignment as the sport shifts to the next ruleset. It’s not a works return, but it is a statement. In a field where identity and technical direction are converging, Haas is putting a manufacturer’s stamp on its future.
Where this leaves the rest of the grid
Tsunoda’s demotion, Hadjar’s rise, and the quiet end of a Horner-era flourish underscore how much has moved in just a few months. Red Bull’s pipeline is flowing again, the second seat remains the most political square metre in motorsport, and McLaren’s internal dynamics face their first title-deciding stress test. Meanwhile, Haas is betting that a little Toyota DNA can help it punch harder when the 2026 reset hits.
The mood? Tense, pragmatic, and just a bit raw. Abu Dhabi has a way of clarifying things. This weekend should be no different.
