Red Bull Reveals Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
The Austrian squad has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid following a five-year stint.
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 prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", praising his "pure speed".
Red Bull prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar celebrates his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He featured an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
The team principal commented: "Isack has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves confirm that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.