Red Bull Announces Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has announced significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the team's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "raw pace".
Red Bull has had a plan for some time to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", adding: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
Isack Hadjar celebrates his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
His performances included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading 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.
The driver market moves confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
