Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Promoted, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive.

Red Bull has confirmed significant changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut F1 drive.

Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.

This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.

A Star in the Making

The youngster was marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Regarding the company's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", praising his "pure speed".

The team has had a plan since last year 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: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."

Lindblad has taken two races in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

A Major Opportunity for Hadjar

Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out on the formation lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers this season.

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

The team principal commented: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max."

The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".

Tsunoda's Exit

For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of 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 notable results, persuading Red Bull he deserves another season.

The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.

The driver market moves confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.