Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Lindblad Gets Formula 1 Seat.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career in Australia currently sitting 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.
These changes means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been identified as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the team's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "raw pace".
Red Bull has been working since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "proud moment", commenting: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation 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 remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure said: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was moved back early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing 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 is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
