Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
These changes sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
The British teen drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "proud moment", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the most impressive rookies of the year.
His performances included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure commented: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad 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 deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
