How Red Bull now feel about promoting Arvid Lindblad to Racing Bulls for the 2026 F1 season

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The make-up of Red Bull’s two driver line-ups for the 2026 Formula 1 season could be set to change from this year.

F1 Oversteer understands that Red Bull now consider young driver Arvid Lindblad too good to overlook going forward.

Red Bull have unexpectedly been at the centre of the Formula 1 driver market this season.

Max Verstappen was heavily linked with a move to Mercedes, and only confirmed at the most recent race in Hungary that he would be racing for Red Bull next season.

Verstappen’s contract technically runs until the end of 2028, but get-out clauses exist that require him to be in a certain position in the drivers’ championship to lock him in for the following season.

However, outside of the four-time world champion’s predicament, there’s far more uncertainty.

That’s where Lindblad looks set to play a role despite not running away with the Formula 2 championship this season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents

Red Bull consider Arvid Lindblad too good to overlook ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season

Lindblad joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2021 and has rapidly risen through the ranks over the past few years.

He was still racing in karting in 2022, before taking part in a host of Formula 4 championships the following year.

A fourth-place finish in his maiden Formula 3 campaign last season was followed up by a championship victory in the Formula Regional Oceania series.

This earned him enough superlicense points to drive in Formula 1, and he made his FP1 debut at the British Grand Prix.

Juan Pablo Montoya has sent a warning to Red Bull about Lindblad, and his results have been impressive but not mind-blowing.

He’s secured victories in the Sprint Race in Jeddah and the Feature Race at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Lindblad is currently seventh in the drivers’ championship, behind fellow Red Bull junior Pepe Marti.

However, with four rounds to go, he’s already 62 points behind current standings leader Leonardo Fornaroli, but plenty can change between now and the end of the campaign.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Who would Arvid Lindblad replace if Red Bull promote him to Racing Bulls for the 2026 F1 season?

With Verstappen locked into a race seat next season at Red Bull, the other three drivers in their stable are potentially battling for two seats should Lindblad be promoted.

In an exclusive interview with F1 Oversteer, Alex Jacques admitted he would be astounded if Lindblad didn’t reach Formula 1, and that moment appears to be approaching quickly.

Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar are all out of contract at the end of the season.

Hadjar is Red Bull’s favoured replacement for Tsunoda, if they decide against continuing with the Japanese driver.

Lawson would be a good comparative marker for Lindblad at Racing Bulls next year, especially as the New Zealander is starting to find his feet following his tricky start to the campaign at Red Bull.

The next 10 races will likely determine the trio’s next steps, and while Formula 2 results are less important to teams these days, Lindblad will also want to deliver some standout results to convince Red Bull he deserves to step up to F1 next year.