Red Bull Reveals Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
The Austrian squad has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad took part in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "pure speed".
Red Bull has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "Next season represents a massive test, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken 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 Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, 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 points total.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.