Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad took part in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been marked out as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the team's young driver programme, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", highlighting his "natural quickness".
The team prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", adding: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
His performances included an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was moved back early in the year. He has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
The driver market moves confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
