Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad is in the running for a Formula 1 seat in 2026. The team have three seats available next season, and he is the fourth driver in the equation.
Only Max Verstappen is confirmed for 2026 as he reiterated his commitment to Red Bull amid speculation that he could seek an early exit. Red Bull’s three other drivers are out of contract in 2025, creating a headache for their line-ups next season.
| DRIVER | TEAM |
| Franco Colapinto | Alpine* |
| George Russell | Mercedes |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
*Franco Colapinto on a race-by-race contract
Yuki Tsunoda has struggled in the RB21 since replacing Liam Lawson after two races in 2025. While the arrival of Laurent Mekies as team principal has brought improved results, sitting 17th in the drivers’ championship is not good enough for a title contender like Red Bull.
Tsunoda faces the likelihood of losing his seat, with Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar being the favourite to join Red Bull. Meanwhile, Lawson is ‘strengthening’ his case to stay on the grid in 2026 with some strong performances in recent weeks.
A return to Racing Bulls is not off the table for Tsunoda, but he will have to end the 2025 campaign as strong as possible to land the seat. This is especially the case when Lindblad is also being seriously considered for 2026.
Helmut Marko is ‘convinced enough’ by Arvid Lindblad to ignore his ‘challenging’ F2 season and promote him to F1
The 18-year-old Brit is highly rated at Red Bull and he has been working extensively behind the scenes to prepare for a possible F1 move. He acquired an FIA superlicence earlier this year to serve as a reserve driver and took part in FP1 at Silverstone.
Lindblad matched Tsunoda’s pace during the practice session. But despite his impressive displays in F1 machinery, his season in Formula 2 has raised some question marks.
| TEAM | DRIVER 1 | DRIVER 2 |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | N/A |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Audi | Gabriel Bortoleto | Nico Hulkenberg |
| Cadillac | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Perez |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Lewis Hamilton |
| Haas | Esteban Ocon | Oliver Bearman |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| Mercedes | N/A | N/A |
| Racing Bulls | N/A | N/A |
| Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen | N/A |
| Williams | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
Currently sitting seventh in the standings with two wins, while it is his rookie season, his results leave something to be desired. It is reminiscent of Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli, who both struggled in 2024, yet still got F1 seats.
The same thing could be at play for Lindblad, as according to a report from Motorsport.com, Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko is ‘convinced enough’ by the Brit to promote him to F1.
He is prepared ‘not to pay too much attention to his challenging F2 campaign’ and hand him a drive at Racing Bulls. Marko backs Lindblad as Verstappen’s ‘successor’, and there is a ‘good chance’ that he will be on the grid in 2026.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents
Red Bull are intensely preparing Arvid Lindblad for F1 – but is it still too soon for him?
The 18-year-old has the right people on his side when it comes to landing an F1 seat. Marko disagrees with some at Red Bull over Lindblad, as he is pushing to get him on the grid in 2026.
Red Bull are testing Lindblad’s ‘physical endurance’ in private outings as they evaluate what to do for his future. He is getting the training he needs for F1, but his F2 campaign suggests more time is needed.
Antonelli is having a tough time at Mercedes, regularly missing out on the top 10 in qualifying and points finishes. The same can easily happen to Lindblad, who is suffering similar struggles in F2 this season as the Italian did last year.
Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested Super Formula to Lindblad, seeing that as a great way to sharpen his skills in more powerful machinery. It may be wise for Red Bull to keep their current driver line-up and develop Lindblad further, instead of making a rash decision on their next rising star.