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The Austrian squad has revealed a major reshuffle for the 2026 Grand Prix year, moving up French driver Isack Hadjar to its senior team and handing 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad his first 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 second team VCARB.

This driver musical chairs means Japan's Yuki Tsunoda being without a drive post a half-decade in F1.

Who is Arvid Lindblad?

The youngster was tagged as a prodigy by Red Bull from the age of 12 years old.

Regarding the team's young driver programme, a key advisor previously said that Lindblad "seems extremely gifted", commending his "raw pace".

The team has been working since last year to prepare Lindblad for his likely F1 debut in 2026, featuring appearances in Grand Prix practice at the British and Mexican races.

The rookie said it was a "huge honour", commenting: "2026 will be a massive test, and I know there's much to understand, but I'm prepared to collaborate with the team and rise to it. 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 championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

A Major Opportunity for Hadjar

The Frenchman's debut season started in difficult fashion when he crashed during the warm-up lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But, since then, he has emerged as one of the stand-out newcomers this season.

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

A senior team figure said: "Isack has displayed great maturity and demonstrated to be a quick learner. Crucially, he has the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe he can thrive next to Max."

Hadjar described it "a fantastic step" and said he felt "ready".

Lawson Retains His Seat

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

The New Zealander began the season with the main team but was demoted early in the year. He has found his form at the junior outfit with some strong performances, convincing Red Bull he merits more time.

Tsunoda, in contrast, loses his place after a difficult season. His highest finish is a sixth place, and he has accumulated a minor percentage of the team's constructors' championship.

These announcements confirm that there remains no spot on the Red Bull academy for Irish driver Alex Dunne, who will continue in F2 for 2026.