Red Bull Reveals Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Elevated, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
Red Bull has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This driver musical chairs results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", commending his "raw pace".
Red Bull has had a plan since last year to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, 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."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career began on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out rookies of the year.
He included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was demoted after just two races. He has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
