Red Bull Announces Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career in Australia and is 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
The Austrian squad has revealed a major reshuffle for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", highlighting his "raw pace".
Red Bull prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, including runs in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won 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, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers of the year.
His performances included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, 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 points total.
These announcements confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
