Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Lindblad Gets Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
Red Bull has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
The British teen drove first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "pure speed".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
His performances featured an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
Hadjar described it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was moved back after just two races. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
