Red Bull Reveals Major 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Elevated, Youngster Lindblad Secures Grand Prix Debut.

The Austrian squad has confirmed significant changes for the 2026 F1 campaign, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his first F1 drive.

Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.

This driver musical chairs sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.

Who is Arvid Lindblad?

Lindblad has been tagged as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.

Talking about the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "pure speed".

Red Bull has been working for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.

The rookie said it was a "dream come true", commenting: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started."

Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Frenchman's Chance

The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out rookies of the year.

He included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the drivers' standings.

The team principal commented: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."

The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready".

Tsunoda's Exit

To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.

The New Zealander started 2025 with the senior squad but was demoted early in the year. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits more time.

The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing 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 mean that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.