Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Earns F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
The Austrian squad has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become the partner of New Zealander Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
These changes sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
The British teen drove first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been identified as a potential future star 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 "natural quickness".
The team has been working for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "huge honour", commenting: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can't wait to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
The Frenchman's debut season started on a low note when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers this season.
His performances featured an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the championship.
The team principal commented: "Isack has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was moved back early in the year. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.