Red Bull Confirms Significant 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, Teenager Arvid Lindblad Secures F1 Drive.

The Austrian squad has announced a new line-up for the 2026 F1 campaign, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first Formula 1 seat.

Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.

This driver musical chairs means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive following a five-year stint.

The New British Hope

The youngster was identified as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Regarding the team's junior academy, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", praising his "pure speed".

Red Bull has been working 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 "proud moment", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."

He has won a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Frenchman's Chance

The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out rookies this season.

His performances included an outstanding podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.

The team principal said: "Hadjar 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 "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".

Tsunoda's Exit

To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.

The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.

Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.

These announcements confirm that there is also no spot on the Red Bull programme for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.