Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career in Australia and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This driver musical chairs means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the team's junior academy, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", commending his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", commenting: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
His performances featured an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with notable results, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
