Tuesday, December 2

Hager will accompany Verstappen at Red Bull and Lindblad at Racing Bulls

the Formula 1 A full grid has been confirmed for the 2026 season due Red Bull has confirmed its drivers for next season He also announced who would fill the seats Bull racing. and There were no surprises in this announcement.

As has been discussed in the top-flight circuit for several days, Max Verstappenwho will go this weekend to obtain his fifth consecutive title in Abu Dhabi, The Frenchman Ishak Hajjar will be with him as his partnerwho will occupy a seat Yuki Tsunoda. While the second team will run with Liam Lawson and British Swede Arvid Lindblad18 years old and a member of the Austrian Team Development Programme.

“In his first season in Formula 1, Isaac has shown great maturity and proven to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he showed pure speed, which is the number one requirement in this sport. We think so He can thrive alongside Max and produce magic on the field. 2026 will be a big challenge for the team; “These are exciting times and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together,” said Laurent Mekes, CEO and Team Principal.

The 21-year-old Frenchman is the son of Algerian immigrants and the runner-up Formula 2 In 2024, he arrived at Formula 1 this year without a title in any minor category, but it didn’t take long for him to stand out behind the wheel of one of the Racing Bulls’ cars. In the absence of a date, he can already say he had a strong first campaign in the first category, with Podium in the Netherlands and points in ten raceswhich he put in Tenth place In the World Drivers’ Championship. Thus he got the promotion and the opportunity to share the team with Verstappen, who did not move from his seat.

“I am extremely grateful to Red Bull for giving me the opportunity and confidence to compete at the highest level in Formula 1. After all the hard work I have put in since joining Formula 1. Junior teamIt’s a great reward. “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs throughout my career, and they continue to believe in me and push me,” Hajjar said.

He added: “This year with Red Bull has been absolutely amazing; I have learned a lot. I feel much better as a driver and as a person thanks to the team’s support and preparation. I feel ready to go to Red Bull and I am happy and proud that they feel the same.” It’s an incredible step. Working with the best and learning from Max is something I can’t wait to get started on“.

Hajjar’s rise means just that Thus, Tsunoda will lose his place in the top division after five yearsFour of them are on the second energy drink team, and will remain so Beta test next yearThis was confirmed by the team itself in a blog post on its networks in which it thanked the Asian for his “commitment and effort during this season.”

The 25-year-old Japanese took the lead in the third race of this championship, replacing Lawson, but he was never able to get the best performance from the car. His performance has been overshadowed by the Frenchman, who is the second best rookie this season after him Kimi Antonelli. Finally, even the desire and pressure of Honda, Red Bull’s engine supplier and chiefly responsible for his rise to the top, will not help him keep his seat.

“It has been a pleasure working with Yuki at both Red Bull teams. Throughout his five seasons so far in Formula 1, He has matured into an all-round driver, fast one lap on Saturdays and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race handling on Sundays.. Everyone in the sport agrees that it is impossible not to love him, his personality is contagious and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family. On behalf of everyone, thank you for everything you have contributed so far, we know that It will provide invaluable support for future 2026 projectsMikey commented.

The 33 points he gained, without podiums, to finish 15th in the championship, were not enough for Tsunoda even to retain the Racing Bulls car. The team opted to keep Lawson – whom the Japanese replaced at Red Bull at the start of the year and who is 14th with 38 units – and ‘promote’ Lindblad, on track to finish sixth in his first season in Formula 2.

“Since I started this path at the age of five, my goal has always been to get to Formula 1, so it is a proud moment to take this step,” said the 2007-born Briton, who has already been dubbed “the new Verstappen” by many European media.

He added: “2026 will be a big challenge and I know there is a lot to learn, but I am ready to work closely with the team and face it. I can’t wait to get started. It will be an exciting year,” he added, who this year participated in two free training sessions for Red Bull, in Tsunoda’s car in Great Britain and in the Dutchman’s car in Mexico.

“Liam has shown impressive performance and professionalism throughout this year, excelling when the going has been toughest and we look forward to building on that in 2026, while Arvid’s rapid progress makes him one of the sport’s standout young talents. Together they form a strong and dynamic duo, who embody the ambition and youthful spirit of the team as we enter a new, transformative era for Formula 1,” commented RB Director Alan Biermann.

Like Us
Follow Us
Subscribe Us
Follow Us