Red Bull Reveals Substantial 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
The Red Bull team has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
These changes sees 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 this year.
Lindblad has been marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the team's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "natural quickness".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career began on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers of the year.
His performances included an excellent podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
Hadjar described it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His best result 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 programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
