Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls have confirmed their 2026 driver line-ups: Isack Hadjar moves up to partner Max Verstappen, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, while 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad debuts in F1 with Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.
In a writers-opinion piece, some argue Hadjar’s strong rookie year — including a podium finish — justifies his promotion.
Yet others warn the jump might be too soon: being Verstappen’s teammate means far greater pressure, and past cases of talented rookies failing to deliver at the top suggest experience matters more than potential alone.