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The Red Bull team has announced a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and awarding 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden F1 drive.

The young driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, is set to become team-mate to New Zealander Liam Lawson at the junior outfit Racing Bulls.

This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive after five seasons.

A Star in the Making

Lindblad has been marked out as a potential future star by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Talking about the company's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "pure speed".

The team prepared a programme for some time to prepare Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, including appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.

Lindblad stated it was a "proud moment", adding: "2026 will be a big challenge, and I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and step up. I am incredibly excited to get started."

He has won a couple of victories in F2 this year and is P6 in the standings heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Hadjar's Big Break

The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note 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 stand-out rookies this season.

His performances featured an excellent top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies 10th in the championship.

The team principal commented: "Isack has shown impressive growth and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can succeed alongside Max."

The promoted driver called it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".

The Lawson Decision

To partner Lindblad at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.

Lawson started 2025 with the main team but was moved back early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, persuading Red Bull he merits another season.

The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a small fraction of the team's constructors' championship.

These announcements confirm that there is also no place on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.