Red Bull Confirms Major 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Secures Formula 1 Seat.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut in Australia and is 10th in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 standings.
The Austrian squad has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB.
This reshuffling means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad took part in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Discussing the team's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "pure speed".
The team prepared a programme for some time to prepare 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", adding: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
The French driver enjoys his maiden top-three finish in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he spun out on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers of the year.
He included an excellent 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 demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."
Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "prepared".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.
