🔗 Share this article Red Bull Announces Significant 2026 Driver Seats: Hadjar Steps Up, Youngster Arvid Lindblad Gets F1 Drive. Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) holds sixth place in the F2 standings. The Red Bull team has confirmed a major reshuffle for the 2026 Formula 1 season, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive. Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the junior outfit VCARB. This reshuffling means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid after five seasons. Who is Arvid Lindblad? The British teen took part in FP1 for the Silverstone and Mexican Grands Prix this year. Lindblad has been marked out as a potential future star by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old. Talking about the team's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "natural quickness". The team has been working for some time to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City. The rookie said it was a "proud moment", adding: "Next season represents a huge step, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm eager to collaborate with the team and step up. I can't wait to get started." He has won two races in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Hadjar's Big Break The French driver celebrates his first podium in F1, secured at the Zandvoort race this season. Hadjar's F1 career began in difficult fashion when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, from that point, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year. He included an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings. A senior team figure commented: "Hadjar has shown great maturity and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max." Hadjar described it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "up for the challenge". The Lawson Decision To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have preferred Lawson instead of Tsunoda. The New Zealander began the season 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 another season. Tsunoda, meanwhile, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has scored a minor percentage of the team's points total. These announcements confirm that there remains no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.