Red Bull Announces Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, Teenager Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career in Australia currently sitting tenth in the standings. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings.
Red Bull has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.
This reshuffling means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.
The New British Hope
The British teen participated in first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been marked out as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "natural quickness".
Red Bull has had a plan since last year to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, since then, he has emerged as one of the most impressive rookies of the year.
He featured an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.
The team principal said: "Isack has displayed 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 "an incredible opportunity" 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.
Lawson began the season with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored 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 remain in F2 next season.