Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, Teenager Lindblad Gets Formula 1 Seat.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia currently sitting 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship.
The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.
The young driver, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat post a half-decade in F1.
A Star in the Making
The British teen participated 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 company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "natural quickness".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
The rookie said it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out rookies this season.
He included an excellent podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.
The team principal said: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" 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.
Lawson started 2025 with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with notable results, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
