Hadjar to Red Bull, Lindblad to Racing Bulls for 2026 F1 Season
The 2026 Formula 1 grid is taking shape with significant driver announcements from Red Bull Racing and their sister team, Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar will move up to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull, even as British rookie Arvid Lindblad will produce his F1 debut with Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.
Hadjar Steps Up to Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar’s impressive performance during the 2025 season has earned him a promotion to Red Bull Racing. He secured points in 10 Grands Prix, including a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix , demonstrating his potential as a top-tier Formula 1 driver. He will replace Yuki Tsunoda as Verstappen’s teammate.
Lindblad Makes F1 Debut with Racing Bulls
Eighteen-year-old Arvid Lindblad will join Racing Bulls for the 2026 season, marking his Formula 1 debut. The British driver, whose father is Swedish and mother is of Indian descent , finished sixth in the Formula 2 standings with Campos Racing. He will race alongside Liam Lawson.
Lindblad has been a Red Bull junior driver since the age of 12 and has impressed during Free Practice 1 outings at Silverstone and Mexico City . Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has previously praised Lindblad’s “pure speed” .
Tsunoda Transitions to Reserve Role
Yuki Tsunoda, who previously held a seat at Racing Bulls, will seize on a reserve driver role for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2026 . He has been with Red Bull for seven years.
Racing Bulls Praise Lindblad’s Approach
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has noted similarities between Lindblad and Isack Hadjar, praising Lindblad’s calm and professional approach to learning . Chief technical officer Tim Goss similarly highlighted Lindblad’s straightforward feedback and impressive composure for his age .
Lindblad expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “2026 will be a massive challenge and I know there’s a lot to learn, but I’m ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can’t wait to get started.”