Isack Hadjar Joins Red Bull for 2026 as Arvid Lindblad Gets Racing Bulls Seat

Isack Hadjar will step up to Red Bull Racing in 2026 as Max Verstappen's teammate, and rookie Arvid Lindblad will make his Formula 1 debut alongside Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, the two Red Bull-owned teams announced on Tuesday, according to Formula 1 (opens in a new tab).

Yuki Tsunoda loses his race seat but stays in the family as test and reserve driver for both teams.

The two squads were the only ones on the grid with open seats for 2026. With Cadillac joining as the 11th team, the grid for the new era of chassis and power unit rules is now complete.

Hadjar's rookie year pays off

Hadjar had long been expected to replace Tsunoda at Red Bull after a strong first season. He has scored points in 10 Grands Prix in 2025, including a maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

"I'm so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula One," Hadjar said. "It's an awesome move, to work with the best and learn from Max is something I can't wait for."

Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, said Hadjar had "displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner" in his first season.

"Most importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport," Mekies said. "2026 will be a huge challenge for the Team and for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, these are exciting times."

Lindblad steps up, Lawson stays

Lindblad, a Red Bull junior, emerged as a candidate after strong races in Formula 2 and Free Practice 1 outings in a Red Bull at Silverstone and in Mexico. That left Tsunoda and Lawson to fight for the last Racing Bulls seat, and Lawson won it to secure a second full season with the team he joined midway through 2024 in place of Daniel Ricciardo.

"Since I started this journey at five years old, it was always my goal to be in Formula 1 so it's a proud moment to take this step," Lindblad said.

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane called Lindblad "one of the standout young talents in the sport" and said Lawson "has excelled when conditions have been at their hardest."

A thank you to Tsunoda

Mekies paid tribute to Tsunoda, who has raced in Red Bull colors for seven years and is in his fifth F1 season.

"Yuki has matured into a complete racer, good over a single lap on Saturday and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday," Mekies said. "It is impossible not to like Yuki, his personality is infectious, and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family."

Before the new line-ups take over, the 2025 season ends this weekend in Abu Dhabi with a three-way fight for the drivers' title.

Lindblad scored on his debut at the season opener, covered in our Australian Grand Prix recap, and Hadjar later gave Red Bull Racing a double podium with third place in Sao Paulo. Lindblad's 2027 future is still open, as detailed in Racing Bulls' 2027 seat decision.

Sources: Formula 1. More Formula 1 coverage on Undrafted.

Image: Oracle Red Bull Racing via X