Hadjar to partner Verstappen in 2026 as Lindblad arrives in F1

ABU DHABI, Dec 2 : Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda in the hot seat as Max Verstappen's Red Bull teammate next season with Arvid Lindblad joining Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, the Formula One teams announced on Tuesday.

Frenchman Hadjar, 21, has made a big impression in his debut season with sister team Racing Bulls including taking his first podium with third place in the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

British-born Lindblad, who also has Swedish nationality and Indian heritage through his mother, moves up from Formula Two to partner New Zealander Lawson and will be the sole rookie on the 2026 grid.

Tsunoda's departure leaves Formula One without a Japanese driver on the starting grid. Red Bull said he will remain within the 'family' as test and reserve driver for the first season of a new engine era.

Tsunoda will also serve as Racing Bulls reserve when compatriot Ayu Iwasa, this year's Japanese Super Formula champion, is not available.

"We believe Isack can thrive alongside Max and produce the magic on track," said Red Bull principal Laurent Mekies.

HOTTEST SEAT IN FORMULA ONE

The role of teammate to four-times world champion Verstappen, who could yet add a fifth title in a row at Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has been something of a poisoned chalice for a string of hopefuls.

Verstappen, the absolute number one driver, will start 2026 with his fourth different teammate since the last race of 2024.

No teammate has come close to the Dutch driver's relentless form since Mexican Sergio Perez took four podiums in the first five races last season and then suffered a dramatic loss of pace before departing.

Before him Alex Albon, now at Williams, and Pierre Gasly, who moved to Renault-owned Alpine, also