Racing Bulls can achieve a podium before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season. This is the prediction of former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe, who believes that the team’s recent performance puts it in a position to take advantage of any opportunity in the remaining stages of the championship.
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This assessment comes after a consistent first half of the season for the Faenza team, which frequently stayed among the top ten. This performance placed Racing Bulls in fifth position in the constructors’ championship, five points ahead of Alpine.
Despite this, Alpine is, so far, the only team outside the top four to reach the podium in 2026, thanks to the third place achieved by Pierre Gasly at the Monaco GP. Even so, Hinchcliffe believes this scenario could change before the season ends.
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In an interview with F1, the Canadian made a bold prediction for the second half of the championship: “A Racing Bulls podium. Just as Hadjar achieved one last season for the Faenza team, I think there is a chance this year, considering how much the team has evolved and the good form of both drivers,” he said.
Hinchcliffe avoided pointing out which driver would have the best chance of achieving this result but highlighted the performance of both Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad: “I won’t say who I consider the most likely candidate because I really don’t know. Both have been delivering a very high level during the weekends, and if everything happens the right way, maybe in our first rainy race of the year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lawson or Lindblad seizing the opportunity to reach the podium,” he added.
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