Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed significant changes for the 2026 F1 campaign, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the company's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "raw pace".
The team prepared a programme since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, 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 so far this season and is sixth in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out rookies of the year.
He included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was demoted early in the year. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
The driver market moves confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
