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The Red Bull team has confirmed a new line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, elevating French driver Isack Hadjar to its A-team and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.

Lindblad, who comes from a mixed Swedish-Indian background, will be team-mate to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson at the sister squad Racing Bulls.

This reshuffling results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda exiting the grid following a five-year stint.

The New British Hope

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

Talking about the team's young driver programme, a senior Red Bull figure noted last year that Lindblad "appears very talented", highlighting his "natural quickness".

The team prepared a programme for some time to ready Lindblad for his potential F1 debut in 2026, featuring runs in Grand Prix practice at Silverstone and Mexico City.

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

Lindblad has taken two races in F2 this year and is sixth in the standings heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi.

A Major Opportunity for Hadjar

The Frenchman's debut season started on a low note when he spun out during the warm-up lap of the first Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has been one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.

His performances featured an outstanding top-three result at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.

The team principal said: "Hadjar has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the innate pace that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can thrive alongside Max."

Hadjar described it "an awesome move" and said he felt "prepared".

Tsunoda's Exit

For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have preferred Lawson over Tsunoda.

The New Zealander began the season with the senior squad but was moved back early in the year. He has found his form at Racing Bulls with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits another season.

The Japanese driver, in contrast, loses his place after a disappointing season. His best result is a P6, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.

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