Red Bull Announces Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener and is tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
The British teen took part in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was identified as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "raw pace".
Red Bull has had a plan for some time to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", commenting: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances included an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the senior squad but was moved back 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.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
