Red Bull Reveals Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the stand-out rookies of the year.
He included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Isack has shown great maturity and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "prepared".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.