Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
Red Bull has revealed a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was identified as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "raw pace".
The team has had a plan for some time 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: "Next season represents a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has been one of the most impressive rookies this season.
His performances included an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has displayed great maturity and proved to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
