Red Bull promotes Hadjar and leaves Tsunoda out of F1

Red Bull confirmed on Tuesday that French driver Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen starting in 2026—a move that had been widely expected in the paddock over the past few weeks.

The sister team, Racing Bulls, will retain Liam Lawson and promote 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad. That leaves Yuki Tsunoda without a race seat, relegated to reserve driver in Helmut Marko’s ruthless game of musical chairs.

Tsunoda loses his seat

Tsunoda’s strong start to the 2025 season had raised hopes, but the unpredictability of the car and the challenge of partnering the reigning world champion ultimately cost him a place on the grid.

With Honda’s support fading, his position weakened further. His career highlight remains a fourth-place finish at Abu Dhabi in 2021, with his best overall season coming in 2024 when he ranked 12th.

Hadjar’s breakthrough

At just 21, Hadjar has already made waves. He scored a podium with third place at the Dutch Grand Prix and currently sits 10th in the standings during his rookie season. The year before, he finished runner-up in Formula 2 with Campos Racing.

His promotion to Red Bull is well-earned, but history shows the challenge ahead: no teammate has managed to consistently push Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018.

Hadjar himself is embracing the opportunity: “I’m grateful for this chance. I’ve learned so much with Racing Bulls—it’s been an incredible year with my first podium. I feel like a better driver now, and I’m ready for Red Bull. I’m glad they believe in me too.”

Team boss Laurent Mekies bid farewell to Tsunoda: “It’s impossible not to like Yuki. He’s a special part of the Red Bull family, and I thank him for his contribution. He’s raced five years, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with him in both teams.”

Lawson and Lindblad secure seats

Elsewhere, Liam Lawson can breathe easier. After starting 2025 with Red Bull and finishing the year at Racing Bulls, he sits 14th in the championship with more points than Tsunoda—a likely factor in his retention. The 23-year-old New Zealander has built a reputation as a gritty, aggressive racer, qualities Marko values.

Joining him will be the grid’s only rookie in 2026: Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old Brit of Swedish descent. Currently sixth in Formula 2, Lindblad raced alongside Spain’s Pepe Martí before Martí shifted to Formula E.

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