Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 standings.
The Austrian squad has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
This driver musical chairs means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the British and Mexico City 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 "seems extremely gifted", commending his "natural quickness".
Red Bull prepared a programme since last year to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", commenting: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has been one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
The team principal commented: "Hadjar has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was demoted after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.
The driver market moves confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
