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The Austrian squad has announced a new line-up for the 2026 Grand Prix year, promoting French driver Isack Hadjar to its main squad and giving 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his maiden Formula 1 seat.

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

These changes results in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda losing his seat following a five-year stint.

A Star in the Making

The youngster was tagged as a rising talent by Red Bull since he was 12 years old.

Regarding the company's junior academy, a senior Red Bull figure previously said that Lindblad "appears very talented", commending his "raw pace".

Red Bull has had a plan since last year to ready Lindblad for his likely Grand Prix bow in 2026, including appearances in F1 practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City.

Lindblad stated it was a "huge honour", commenting: "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 can't wait to get started."

Lindblad has taken a couple of victories in F2 so far this season and is P6 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

A Major Opportunity for Hadjar

The Frenchman's debut season began on a low note when he crashed on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, from that point, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers of the year.

He included an remarkable podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, and he sits 10th in the drivers' standings.

A senior team figure said: "Isack has displayed impressive growth and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the primary necessity in this sport. We believe he can succeed next to Max."

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

The Lawson Decision

For the seat at Racing Bulls, Red Bull have opted for Lawson instead of Tsunoda.

The New Zealander began the season with the senior squad but was moved back early in the year. However, he has settled back in at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he deserves another season.

Tsunoda, in contrast, has been ejected after a difficult season. His best result is a sixth place, and he has scored a small fraction of the team's points total.

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