Red Bull Announces Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Gets Formula 1 Seat.
French driver Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 standings.
The Austrian squad has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
This driver musical chairs sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat following a five-year stint.
A Star in the Making
Arvid Lindblad took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year.
The youngster was marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.
Talking about the team's young driver programme, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "dream come true", adding: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to work closely 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 heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman's Chance
The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.
Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive rookies 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: "Hadjar has displayed impressive growth and proved to be a fast adapter. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."
Hadjar described it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "prepared".
Lawson Retains His Seat
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.
The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was moved back after just two races. He has found his form at the junior outfit with notable results, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, has been ejected after a disappointing 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 spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.
