F1 | Red Bull 2026 driver lineup shock: here’s who will partner Max Verstappen. Red Bull has confirmed its 2026 driver lineup.

Red Bull has finalized its driver lineup for 2026: Max Verstappen will have a new teammate, and here’s who it will be. As this Formula 1 season draws to a close, all eyes are on Red Bull’s 2026 driver lineup. Who will join the four-time world champion?

In recent months, attention has focused on the promising Formula 2 talent Arvid Lindblad. The eighteen-year-old British driver of Swedish and Indian descent received his F1 superlicense this year, even before reaching adulthood. In the UK, he replaced Yuki Tsunoda in FP1 sessions.

According to AMUS, Lindblad is very close to being promoted to Red Bull. This implies that one of the current drivers on the grid will lose their seat. Helmut Marko has been searching for a teammate suitable for Verstappen for some time, but results in recent years have been rather disappointing.

Isack Hadjar appears to be an ideal candidate, especially after his first podium in Zandvoort. It now seems almost certain that he will partner the Dutch four-time world champion at Red Bull.

What about Racing Bulls?

The Red Bull management wants to give Arvid Lindblad a chance to prove his value in Formula 1. With Verstappen, Hadjar, and Lindblad, three of the four seats across Red Bull and Racing Bulls would be filled. The final seat is being contested by Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. Honda has so far protected the Japanese driver, but everything will change in 2026 when the engine supplier moves to Aston Martin.

Since joining Red Bull, Tsunoda has not delivered standout performances. A few mistakes have prevented him from supporting Verstappen or the team effectively. Similarly, Lawson, with 20 points compared to Hadjar’s 38, has yet to meet expectations, despite having slightly more experience as a Formula 2 graduate from New Zealand.

AMUS is betting on Tsunoda, but both he and Lawson will have plenty to prove in the final eight races of the season. Whoever falls short may have to leave Formula 1, unless Red Bull provides an alternative solution. If Verstappen were to leave in the future, a seat could reopen in 2027.