Red Bull Reveals Significant 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Elevated, 18-Year-Old Lindblad Earns Formula 1 Seat.

The Austrian squad has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.

Lindblad, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.

These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.

A Star in the Making

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

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

Red Bull prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.

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

He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is sixth in the championship ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

A Major Opportunity for Hadjar

The Frenchman's debut season started on a low note when he spun out on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out rookies of the year.

He featured an excellent podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.

The team principal commented: "Isack has shown great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."

The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "up for the challenge".

Tsunoda's Exit

For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Tsunoda.

Lawson 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 more time.

Tsunoda, meanwhile, has been ejected after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.

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