Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Earns F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
The Austrian squad has confirmed significant changes for the 2026 F1 campaign, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been 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 previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "raw pace".
The team has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", commenting: "Next season represents a massive test, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can't wait to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began 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 newcomers of the year.
He featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, 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 "a fantastic step" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.