Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Lindblad Secures Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.
These changes means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
The British teen took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Discussing the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure 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 likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited 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 enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the stand-out rookies this season.
His performances included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
The Lawson Decision
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
