Red Bull Reveals Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Grand Prix year, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This driver musical chairs sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad took part in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "raw pace".
The team has been working since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure said: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has found his form at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
