Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
Red Bull has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", commending his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", commenting: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
He included an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the championship.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was moved back after just two races. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with notable results, persuading Red Bull he merits more time.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult 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 place on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
