Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Earns F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
The British teen 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 company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", commenting: "2026 will be 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."
He has won two races in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career began on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
He featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Isack has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
The driver market moves mean that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
