Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.

The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 F1 campaign, elevating Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.

Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.

This driver musical chairs results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons.

Who is Arvid Lindblad?

The youngster was tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Talking about the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "pure speed".

The team prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.

Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."

Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.

The Frenchman's Chance

Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion 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 newcomers of the year.

His performances included an remarkable top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings.

A senior team figure said: "Isack has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."

Hadjar described it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "prepared".

The Lawson Decision

For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.

The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.

The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.

The driver market moves confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 next season.