Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager 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 F2 championship.
Red Bull has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
This driver musical chairs sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
The British teen participated in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been identified as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the company's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "natural quickness".
The team prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season started 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 most impressive rookies 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 commented: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the main team but was moved back after just two races. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
