Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
The Austrian squad has announced a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "raw pace".
Red Bull has been working for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has emerged as one of the most impressive rookies of the year.
He included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements confirm that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
