Red Bull have confirmed Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for the 2026 season, while British teenager Arvid Lindblad will make his Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda will stay in the Red Bull fold as test and reserve driver.
Hadjar’s impressive rookie campaign at Racing Bulls, which included a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, has earned him a seat alongside Verstappen, who is aiming to win a record-equalling fifth consecutive drivers’ title at Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Current Formula 2 driver Lindblad, 18, will be the only debutant in the field next year as he joins Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.
Hadjar, 21, said: “I’m so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula 1.
“After all the hard work I have put in since joining the junior team, it’s such a great reward.
“I’ve had many ups and downs throughout my career, and they kept believing and pushing me.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said: “[Hadjar] has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport.
“We believe Isack can thrive alongside Max and produce the magic on track!”
Tsunoda has spent six seasons in Formula 1 but largely underperformed this year after replacing Lawson at Red Bull from the third race of the season in April.
The announcements on Tuesday complete the 22-driver field for 2026 which will see Cadillac join the grid amid new technical regulations where the pecking order could be shaken up.
Hadjar next driver to take on F1’s ‘hardest seat’
Hadjar will become Verstappen’s fourth team-mate in the space of 13 months after Tsunoda, Lawson and Sergio Perez, and the sixth in eight seasons since Daniel Ricciardo left the team at the end of 2018.
The seat next to the Dutchman was routinely described as the “hardest” in F1 by former Red Bull chief Christian Horner and, despite theoretically representing one of the grid’s few race-winning drives, has become something of a poisoned chalice for its occupant.
After Perez’s increasingly difficult four years in the seat were ended at the end of 2024, Lawson was promoted from Racing Bulls but lasted just the season-opening Australian and Chinese race weekends before being demoted back down to the sister team and Tsunoda promoted in his place.
But despite the 25-year-old’s greater F1 experience than his immediate predecessor, Tsunoda has similarly struggled.
Tsunoda has finished in the points just seven times in 21 Grand Prix appearances, with a best finish of sixth at September’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and is 15th in the Drivers’ Championship, behind both Racing Bulls drivers.
He was qualified Verstappen only once in either qualifying format, last Saturday for the Qatar Sprint, and is 366 points behind his team-mate, who has won seven grands prix to take the title fight with the McLaren drivers down to the final round.
Hadjar, by contrast, has impressed in his rookie season at the top level.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Relive Isack Hadjar’s highs and lows from his rookie season after it was confirmed that the Frenchman will replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull next year
Recovering well from the initial setback of spinning out in the wet on his inaugural F1 formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix in March, Hadjar has generally outperformed Lawson and is 10th in the championship after 10 GP points finishes – headlined by his stunning third at Zandvoort, the Red Bull junior team’s first F1 podium since 2021.
“This year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has been absolutely amazing, I’ve learnt a lot and secured a maiden podium. I feel I’m much better as a racing driver and a person, due to the team’s support and preparation,” said Hadjar.
“I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud they feel the same. It’s an awesome move, to work with the best and learn from Max is something I can’t wait for.”
More to follow…
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
