Red Bull Reveals Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting tenth in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed a major reshuffle for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
The British teen took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was identified as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", praising his "raw pace".
Red Bull has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", commenting: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
His performances featured an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was moved back early in the year. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
