Oracle Red Bull Racing has confirmed a significant driver line-up change for the 2026 Formula One season, promoting rising star Isack Hadjar to partner reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Hadjar's Rapid Rise to the Top Team
The 21-year-old Frenchman will step up from the Red Bull junior squad, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, after a standout rookie campaign. Hadjar currently sits 10th in the drivers' championship ahead of the final race, having secured a memorable maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Throughout the season, he has consistently outperformed his more experienced teammate, Liam Lawson, both in qualifying and on race day. This impressive form has convinced Red Bull's top brass to hand him the coveted seat alongside Verstappen.
"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," said Hadjar. "After all the hard work I have put in since joining the junior team, it's such a great reward... I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud they feel the same."
Tsunoda Out as Lindblad Gets His Chance
Hadjar's promotion means Yuki Tsunoda vacates the Red Bull race seat. After five seasons in F1, including a mid-2025 promotion from Racing Bulls, the Japanese driver is set to move into a test and reserve driver role for the team, leaving him without a race seat for 2026.
Filling Hadjar's place at Racing Bulls will be British teenager Arvid Lindblad, who is handed his Formula One debut. The 18-year-old, part of the Red Bull junior programme since he was 14, currently sits sixth in the Formula 2 standings. He has already turned heads during F1 practice outings for Red Bull at Silverstone and in Mexico City.
"Since I started this journey at five years old, it was always my goal to be in Formula One so it's a proud moment to take this step," Lindblad stated.
The Ultimate Challenge: Partnering Verstappen
Hadjar now faces the formidable challenge of being Max Verstappen's teammate. The three-time world champion has seen a succession of drivers – including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Pérez – struggle to match his relentless pace and consistency since his own debut in 2016.
The driver market move completes a major reshuffle within the Red Bull stable, showcasing their commitment to developing young talent. While Lawson remains at Racing Bulls to partner the rookie Lindblad, all eyes will be on whether Hadjar can thrive in the most high-pressure seat on the grid alongside the sport's dominant force.
