Red Bull Announces Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Earns Grand Prix Debut.
Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is 10th in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 standings.
The Red Bull team has confirmed a major reshuffle for the 2026 F1 campaign, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
These changes sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
The British teen drove first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
Lindblad has been marked out as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", highlighting his "raw pace".
Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He featured an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the drivers' standings.
The team principal commented: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. 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".
Tsunoda's Exit
For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. However, he has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
