Isack Hadjar (left) made his debut at the season opener and is tenth in the standings. Arvid Lindblad (right) is sixth in the Formula 2 championship.
The Austrian squad has confirmed a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up Frenchman Isack Hadjar to its main squad and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.
The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad VCARB.
These changes sees Japan's Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid post a half-decade in F1.
The New British Hope
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 since he was 12 years old.
Talking about the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "looks really promising", praising his "pure speed".
The team has had a plan for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, including runs in F1 practice sessions at the British and Mexican races.
Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", adding: "2026 will be a huge step, and I know there's plenty to absorb, but I'm prepared to work closely with the team and rise to it. I am incredibly excited to get started."
Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Hadjar's Big Break
Isack Hadjar celebrates his maiden top-three finish in F1, achieved at the Zandvoort race in August.
The Frenchman's debut season began in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the most impressive newcomers this season.
He featured 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 displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can excel alongside Max."
The promoted driver called it "an awesome move" and said he felt "ready".
The Lawson Decision
To partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.
The New Zealander began the season with the senior squad but was demoted after just two races. He has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.
The Japanese driver, meanwhile, loses his place after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's points total.
The driver market moves mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.
