Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Gets Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener and is tenth in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
These changes sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
The British teen took part in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He included an excellent podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed 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 succeed alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" 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 demoted early in the year. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.