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The Austrian squad has announced 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 first Formula 1 seat.

The young driver, who is of Swedish and Indian heritage, is set to become the partner of Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the second team Racing Bulls.

This reshuffling sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.

Who is Arvid Lindblad?

Lindblad has been marked out as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Regarding the team's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "raw pace".

The team prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential Grand Prix bow in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.

Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", commenting: "Next season represents a big challenge, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm ready to collaborate with the team and meet the challenge. 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 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Frenchman's Chance

Hadjar's F1 career began on a low note when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the stand-out rookies of the year.

He included an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he lies in tenth place in the championship.

The team principal commented: "Hadjar has shown impressive growth and demonstrated to be a fast adapter. Most importantly, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."

The promoted driver called it "an incredible opportunity" and said he felt "up for the challenge".

Lawson Retains His Seat

For the seat at the junior team, Red Bull have chosen Lawson over Tsunoda.

The New Zealander started 2025 with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves more time.

The Japanese driver, in contrast, has been ejected after a disappointing season. His highest finish is a P6, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's points total.

These announcements mean that there remains no place on the Red Bull programme for Ireland's Alex Dunne, who will remain in F2 next season.