Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, Teenager Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.
French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting tenth in the championship. British teen Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 standings.
The Red Bull team has revealed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and handing British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
This driver musical chairs sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.
The New British Hope
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 team's junior academy, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "natural quickness".
The team has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
The rookie said it was a "proud moment", commenting: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started."
He has won two races in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race this season.
The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He included an outstanding top-three result 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 innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was moved back early in the year. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a difficult season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull academy for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.
