In a significant reshuffle ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Oracle Red Bull Racing has announced a major change to its driver line-up. The team confirmed that current Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar will be promoted to race alongside three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
New Driver Pairing for the Championship Team
The move sees Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda step away from a full-time racing seat. Tsunoda will transition into the role of Test and Reserve Driver for the 2026 season. This decision comes after the team evaluated performances, with Tsunoda failing to deliver standout results this year, following a similar situation with Liam Lawson whom he had replaced earlier.
The team publicly thanked Tsunoda on social media platform X, stating, "Thank you, Yuki, for your commitment and hard work this season. We'll keep pushing for a strong weekend in Abu Dhabi and look forward to working with you as our Test and Reserve Driver for 2026."
Hadjar's Remarkable Rise and Lindblad's Debut
The 21-year-old French driver, Isack Hadjar, earned his promotion after a season of marked improvement with Racing Bulls. His breakthrough moment came at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he secured his maiden Formula 1 podium finish—an achievement slightly marred when he accidentally broke the trophy, which was later replaced.
Expressing his gratitude, Hadjar said, "I'm so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level. After all the hard work since joining the Junior Team, it's a great reward. This year with Racing Bulls has been amazing; I've learned a lot and secured a maiden podium. I feel ready to go to Red Bull and am happy they feel the same. To work with the best and learn from Max is something I can't wait for."
Filling Hadjar's vacant seat at Racing Bulls will be 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who will make his Formula 1 debut alongside Liam Lawson. Lindblad, of Indian origin and from Formula E champion Oliver Rowland's camp, proved his worth by winning the Formula 2 championship while racing for Campos Racing as part of the Red Bull Junior Team.
Strategic Shift for Red Bull's Future
This driver line-up change signals a strategic long-term investment in young talent by the Red Bull driver program. Promoting Hadjar, who has shown consistent growth, and fast-tracking the F2 champion Lindblad demonstrates a focus on building a strong team for the future. The experience of Verstappen will be crucial in mentoring Hadjar, while Tsunoda's new role keeps an experienced driver within the team's ecosystem for development and simulation work.
All eyes will now be on the season finale in Abu Dhabi, which will be Tsunoda's last race as a primary driver for Red Bull before his role change. The 2026 season promises a fresh dynamic within the team, with the established champion Verstappen paired with the promising Hadjar, and a new rookie on the grid in Lindblad.
