🔗 Share this article Red Bull Confirms Substantial 2026 Driver Roster: Hadjar Steps Up, 18-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Secures Formula 1 Seat. Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is 10th in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the F2 championship. Red Bull has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving British teenager Arvid Lindblad his debut Formula 1 seat. The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls. This reshuffling means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons. Who is Arvid Lindblad? Arvid Lindblad took part in first practice for the British and Mexico City Grands Prix this year. The youngster was marked out as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old. Regarding the company's junior academy, a key advisor noted last year that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", highlighting his "pure speed". The team has been working for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races. Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and meet the challenge. I am incredibly excited to get started." Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is P6 in the championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi. A Major Opportunity for Hadjar Isack Hadjar enjoys his first podium in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August. Hadjar's F1 career started on a low note when he spun out on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers of the year. His performances included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the drivers' standings. A senior team figure commented: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max." Hadjar described it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "ready". The Lawson Decision For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred 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, persuading Red Bull he merits another season. Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship. The driver market moves confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 for 2026.