Bold new chapter: Red Bull elevates Arvid Lindblad to Racing Bulls for 2026, while Liam Lawson secures the other seat after a tense battle with Yuki Tsunoda. This is the core story Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane unfolds to F1.com, explaining why this pairing shapes next year.
Racing Bulls has long served as Red Bull's development ladder, a proving ground to see which talents can make the jump to the works team and win races. Isack Hadjar seized his chance this year, initially stumbling in his first race weekend but then delivering ten strong results in Formula 1’s format, highlighted by a podium in the Netherlands. He sits tenth in the standings heading into Abu Dhabi, a clear signal of his readiness for a higher stage.
That performance level made a promotion to the senior team almost inevitable, joining Max Verstappen as Red Bull’s 2026 lineup. This opening forced Red Bull to promote Lindblad from the Formula 2 ranks. The 18-year-old secured a rare special dispensation to obtain his F1 Superlicence before turning 18, having already earned enough points, and he completed three days of testing with Racing Bulls this year before making two FP1 appearances with Red Bull at Silverstone and in Mexico.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls announced Lindblad’s promotion alongside Hadjar’s leap to Red Bull, with Lawson in the mix as the other seat. While Tsunoda looked the likeliest to lose a Red Bull seat, Lawson’s two previous Red Bull outings this year helped him clinch the spot at Racing Bulls over the Japanese driver.
Permane praises Lawson’s talent and outlines a plan to help him reach his peak performance consistently. Lawson’s season has shown promise, with notable results like P5 in Baku and P6 in Austria, plus two seventh-place finishes in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix in Austin. Permane emphasizes the goal of sustaining peak performance across weekends, noting that Lawson has already made strides in recovering from rough starts, such as in Qatar and earlier Vegas and Baku qualifying sessions.
The team believes Lawson has the pace and potential to be a strong Formula 1 driver, provided he can keep his form steady. Permane highlights Lawson’s improvement in weekend management and qualifying, as well as his ability to deliver strong late-race pace when free of traffic.
With Lindblad joining the Racing Bulls lineup, Red Bull gains a stable platform heading into 2026, a year set to introduce sweeping changes to chassis and power-unit regulations. Permane stresses that continuity matters, and the presence of a driver with nearly a season and a half of F1 experience can help Lindblad settle in more quickly. He envisions Lawson acting as a practical support to Arvid, not a formal mentor, but someone who can share experience and guidance when needed, especially during early testing and tough moments.
Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull signals a move toward broader organizational strength, a development Permane finds deeply meaningful. He expresses pride in Hadjar’s ascent and wishes him the best as he faces Abu Dhabi and the broader horizon ahead.
As the team incubates fresh talent across both driving and engineering roles, Permane reiterates Racing Bulls’ mission: to cultivate talent for Red Bull Racing and the wider operation. The move underscores a recurring theme—success inside the junior ranks can translate to major opportunities at the highest level. Would you agree that this approach best serves long-term success, or do you see potential drawbacks in promoting from within rather than seeking new external stars? Share your thoughts below.
