Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Earns F1 Drive.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 championship.
The Austrian squad has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, will be the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
These changes means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
The British teen took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was identified as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "raw pace".
The team prepared a programme since last year to ready 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 "proud moment", adding: "Next season represents a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
He featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Tsunoda's Exit
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
