Red Bull Reveals Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Lindblad Earns F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has announced significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
These changes results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the team's young driver programme, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", highlighting his "pure speed".
Red Bull has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out rookies of the year.
His performances included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the drivers' standings.
The team principal commented: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
Hadjar described it "an awesome move" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
