Red Bull Confirms Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Gets Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
These changes means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
The British teen drove first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "pure speed".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers of the year.
He included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was moved back after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a P6, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
