Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Lindblad Gets Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
The Austrian squad has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, promoting Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become team-mate to 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?
Arvid Lindblad participated in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's young driver programme, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", praising his "raw pace".
Red Bull has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", commenting: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
Isack Hadjar celebrates his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he spun out 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 outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the championship.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready".
Lawson Retains His Seat
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson began the season with the main team but was moved back early in the year. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a small fraction 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 for 2026.
