Formula 1: Red Bull Racing reveal timetable on 2020 driver decision

Red Bull Racing team manager Helmut Marko revealed a timetable on the team’s decision regarding who their second driver will be in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

In the 2020 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen is set to be in the third and final year of the three-year contract extension that he signed to remain with Red Bull Racing back in October of 2017.

This was confirmed in August after the performance clause contained in his contract, which was believed to give him an out if he was not satisfied with the progression of the Milton Keynes-based team and wanted to seek additional options, expired.

But this still leaves one seat open at Red Bull Racing for the 2020 season, and while team manager Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner have their decision narrowed down to two or three drivers, it is still very much anyone’s guess as to who they will name to be the teammate to the 22-year-old Dutchman next season.

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Pierre Gasly spent the first 12 races of the 2019 season driving for the team after he was promoted from Scuderia Toro Rosso, effectively the Red Bull Racing junior team, in the offseason.

But after underperforming in these 12 races, he and Toro Rosso rookie Alexander Albon swapped seats.

Albon has done a solid job in four races driving for Red Bull Racing thus far, but he hasn’t been good enough for it to be said that his seat is secure for next year, not even over Gasly.

Daniil Kvyat, the former Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso driver who rejoined Toro Rosso ahead of the 2019 season after he was demoted from the former to the latter in 2016 and then cut completely from the latter in 2017, is also evidently in the mix.

So when will Red Bull Racing confirm their driver lineup for the 2020 season?

According to Marko, they are looking to do so following the Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 27.

Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to Formula 1.

"“We will make our evaluation after Mexico.”"

Just one race, the Japanese Grand Prix, separates now from the Mexican Grand Prix. The Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 13 at Suzuka Circuit.

Who will Red Bull Racing name to be Max Verstappen’s teammate in the 2020 Formula 1 season? Expect to know the answer to that question within the next few weeks if what Marko has to say is true.