Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 standings.
The Red Bull team has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.
These changes results in Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid following a five-year stint.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
The British teen drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the team's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "pure speed".
Red Bull has had a plan for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", commenting: "2026 will be a huge step, 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 two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
His performances featured an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the championship.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has shown great maturity 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 excel next to Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His best result is a sixth place, 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 Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
