Red Bull Announces Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener and is 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
Red Bull has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "raw pace".
Red Bull has been working since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out rookies of the year.
His performances included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
