Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Gets Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting 10th in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
Red Bull has confirmed significant changes for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving 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 sister squad Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad participated in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been identified as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan since last year to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", 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 rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
He featured an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
