Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
The Red Bull team has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This reshuffling sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons.
The New British Hope
The British teen took part in FP1 for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Regarding the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", praising his "raw pace".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager 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 heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
His performances featured an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. 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".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at Racing Bulls, 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 settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.
These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
