Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 standings.
Red Bull has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was identified as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "natural quickness".
Red Bull has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "proud moment", commenting: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 so far this season 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, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He featured an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.