Isack Hadjar’s impressive rookie season in Formula One has been rewarded with a promotion to Red Bull as he will drive alongside Max Verstappen for the 2026 season.

Hadjar's switch to the senior set-up has also resulted in 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad being confirmed in second team Racing Bulls' driver line-up with Liam Lawson. 

That does, however, mean Yuki Tsunoda will be without a seat for next season, but he will remain with the team as a test and reserve driver after five years on the grid. 

Along with Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli and Lawson, Hadjar was one of five drivers who made their debuts as full-time drivers ahead of the 2025 season. 

Hadjar's first outing at the Australian Grand Prix got off to the worst possible start after crashing out on the formation lap, but he has since put in several magnificent drives. 

Indeed, among all the rookies this season, only Mercedes' Antonelli (150) has scored more points than Hadjar (51), with the Frenchman also registering one podium. 

That top-three finish came at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he became the fifth-youngest driver in history to stand on the podium. At 20 years, 11 months and three days, he was also the youngest French driver to do so.

Our Driver Line-up for 2026 @Max33Verstappen @Isack_Hadjar

Read more here https://t.co/mvEMyB7JC0 pic.twitter.com/1LLcYUel81

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 2, 2025

"I'm so grateful to Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula One," Hadjar told Red Bull's official website.

"After the hard work I have put in since joining the Junior Team, it's a great reward. I've had many ups and downs throughout my career, and they kept believing and pushing me.

"This year with 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.

"I am ready to go to 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."

Hadjar will, however, face a tough task of keeping up with Verstappen, who is in contention for a fifth consecutive world title ahead of this weekend's season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Dutchman has comprehensively outperformed his team-mates since Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018.

Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda have all tried and failed in Red Bull's second seat, with the latter in particular struggling this season. 

Indeed, Tsunoda only outqualified Verstappen just once, which came in last week's sprint race in Qatar, while his best finish for Red Bull was sixth in Azerbaijan.