Red Bull Reveals Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting 10th in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 standings.
The Red Bull team has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
These changes means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad participated in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
The youngster was marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "looks really promising", commending his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice 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 eager to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been 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.
A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with notable results, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
