Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, Youngster Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
Red Bull has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
This driver musical chairs sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
The British teen participated in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the company's junior academy, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", praising his "pure speed".
Red Bull has had a plan since last year to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
He has won two races in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has emerged as one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.
A senior team figure said: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth 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 alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.