Red Bull Confirms Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 standings.
The Austrian squad has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, promoting Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
These changes sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the company's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including runs in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I can't wait to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has been 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 drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
