Red Bull Shakeup: Lindblad Debuts, Tsunoda Out for 2026

In a seismic move reshaping Formula 1's driver landscape, Red Bull Racing has confirmed a major lineup shuffle for the 2026 season, promoting French rookie Isack Hadjar to the senior team and handing 18-year-old British talent Arvid Lindblad his F1 debut. The decisions mark the end of an era for Yuki Tsunoda, who loses his seat after five seasons.

Arvid Lindblad: The Prodigy's F1 Breakthrough

Born in Virginia Water, Surrey, to a Swedish father and Indian mother, Lindblad has been Red Bull's golden child since age 12. Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko first spotted his extraordinary potential during a karting meeting in Portugal, where the then-12-year-old impressed with his "clear vision" and "pure speed." Marko recalls Lindblad leading conversations far beyond his years, hinting at the maturity that would define his career.

Red Bull has meticulously groomed Lindblad for this moment, orchestrating a 2025 program designed to secure his superlicence. He'll now partner Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, becoming the sixth British driver on the grid next year. After making practice appearances at Silverstone and Mexico City – including a stunning F3 wet-weather drive where he overtook 10+ cars in one lap – Lindblad is ready for the challenge.

"It's a proud moment," Lindblad stated. "I know there's a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work closely with the team and rise to it."

Isack Hadjar's Rapid Rise to Red Bull Racing

Hadjar's journey to Verstappen's side has been remarkable. Despite a tearful Australian GP debut exit, the Frenchman rebounded to become F1's standout rookie. His qualifying mastery against teammate Lawson – beating him 22-5 with a 0.186s average advantage – and stellar Dutch Grand Prix podium earned Red Bull's confidence.

"Isack has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner," said team principal Laurent Mekies. "Most importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport." Hadjar, currently 10th in the drivers' championship, called the move "awesome" and vowed to "produce the magic on track" alongside Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda's F1 Exit After Five Seasons

Tsunoda's departure caps a disappointing campaign where he struggled to match Verstappen's dominance. The Japanese driver's best finish was sixth in Azerbaijan, and he scored just 7% of Red Bull's constructors' points. His sole qualifying victory over Verstappen (Qatar sprint) couldn't mask a 0.644s average deficit – the largest between teammates on the grid.

"He has not been able to justify his position," Marko acknowledged, ending Tsunoda's five-year F1 tenure. The 25-year-old had long hoped for a senior team chance but ultimately couldn't deliver the Red Bull performance standard.

2026 Lineup: Status & Key Battles

At Racing Bulls, Lindblad joins Lawson, who returns after a mid-season swap with Tsunoda. Lawson's Azerbaijan/Austria results (5th/6th) earned him a second full-season chance. Meanwhile, Alex Dunne's mooted Red Bull move collapsed due to internal disagreements, with the Irishman now in talks with Alpine.

Verstappen faces his first true teammate challenge since 2018 as Hadjar arrives. With seven wins already this season and a championship showdown in Abu Dhabi pending, the Dutch champion's camp will closely monitor Hadjar's adaptation to the senior team.