Red Bull Announces Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career in Australia currently sitting tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 standings.
The Red Bull team has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
This driver musical chairs sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad took part in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been identified as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "natural quickness".
Red Bull has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "Next season represents a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
His performances featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was moved back after just two races. However, he has found his form at Racing Bulls with notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, 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.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
