Official Confirmation of the 2026 Racing Bulls Duo

The 18‑year‑old Briton, a long‑time member of the Red Bull Junior Team, replaces Isack Hadjar, who steps up to the senior Red Bull Racing squad alongside Max Verstappen. Liam Lawson is retained for a second full season with the Faenza-based team, providing experience and continuity as Formula 1 enters a major technical rules reset in 2026.

Lindblad’s Rapid Rise

Lindblad currently sits sixth in the 2025 Formula 2 standings with Campos Racing, having taken two F2 victories in his rookie campaign. He previously won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship and has been a standout prospect in the Red Bull Junior Programme since 2022.

The teenager has already sampled F1 machinery in free practice sessions at Silverstone and Mexico City. In 2026, he will become one of the youngest drivers on the grid and the 20th Red Bull Junior to graduate to Formula 1.

Lawson: The Experienced Reference

Lawson remains with Racing Bulls after a solid 2025 campaign. The New Zealander’s consistency, racecraft, and feedback convinced Red Bull management that he is the ideal benchmark. For 2026, Lawson will tackle his first uninterrupted season with one team, aiming to guide Lindblad through his rookie year under the new regulations.

Impact on Tsunoda and Red Bull Camp

The confirmation leaves Yuki Tsunoda without a full-time F1 race seat, although Red Bull has repositioned him in a senior reserve and testing role across both teams. The broader 2026 structure – Verstappen/Hadjar at Red Bull, Lawson/Lindblad at Racing Bulls – underlines Red Bull’s strategy of combining proven winners with aggressively promoted juniors.

Lindblad’s Reaction

Lindblad called the announcement a “proud moment” and said reaching F1 has been his goal since starting karting at the age of five.

Team principal Alan Permane described Lindblad as “one of the standout young talents in the sport” and highlighted the Lawson–Lindblad pairing as a deliberate blend of youth and experience for F1’s 2026 rules overhaul.