Red Bull Confirms Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad drove first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "raw pace".
Red Bull prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers of the year.
His performances featured an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" 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 started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
