French driver Hadjar (left) started his career at the season opener currently sitting 10th in the championship. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the Formula 2 championship.
The Austrian squad has revealed a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its A-team and awarding British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat.
Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the second team VCARB.
These changes means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons.
Who is Arvid Lindblad?
The British teen drove first practice for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix in the current season.
Lindblad has been identified as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", praising his "raw pace".
The team prepared a programme since last year to prepare Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.
Lindblad stated it was a "proud moment", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. I can't wait to get started."
He has won a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is sixth in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A Major Opportunity for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar celebrates his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race this season.
Hadjar's F1 career started in difficult fashion when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has emerged as one of the stand-out rookies this season.
His performances featured an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits in tenth place in the drivers' standings.
A senior team figure said: "Hadjar has displayed impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel next to Max."
The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "prepared".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. However, he has settled back in at Racing Bulls with notable results, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.
The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.
These announcements mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
