Red Bull Announces Significant 2026 Driver Line-Up: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
Red Bull has confirmed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This reshuffling means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
Arvid Lindblad drove FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Regarding the company's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", praising his "natural quickness".
Red Bull has been working since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.
He included an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the championship.
A senior team figure commented: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
