Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
The British teen took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the team's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "raw pace".
The team has been working for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", commenting: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started 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 of the year.
His performances included an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and proved to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
