Roles in the team
In the list of teams that have undergone the most internal changes between last season and the one that kicks off this weekend in Australia undoubtedly stands out Racing Bulls. Already from the second half of 2025, the Faenza company continued the world championship with Alan Permane in the role of new Team Principal, replacing Laurent Mekies after the latter’s move to Red Bull (called by the same Milton Keynes company following the dismissal of Christian Horner).
The only rookie
Regarding the drivers, Racing Bulls will present the only rookie of 2026: Arvid Lindblad. With Isack Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull, the former Red Bull Junior Team member will be ready for his F1 debut at the Melbourne circuit after competing last season in Formula 2, as well as having graduated champion in Formula Regional Oceania: “I’m really excited to be in Australia for my Formula 1 debut – commented the Briton – during the winter break, I trained hard to be in the best shape possible; Coming from F2, I think the main challenge was training the neck. We spent a lot of time in the simulator, which helped me gain confidence before hitting the track. Having three different test sessions was very important this year, so I tried to make the most of each lap to learn something new and feel more comfortable with the car. The 2026 cars are obviously very different, I think the PU is probably the most important change and driver feedback has a bigger influence than in the past. Last weekend I had the chance to ride at the Red Bull Moto Jam in Delhi. It was a truly special event and honestly the best way to kick off the F1 season. It’s always great when I go to India, and this time I really had the chance to connect and excite Indian fans, as well as celebrate my Indian roots with my mother and grandparents. Now I’m fully focused and ready for Melbournewhich is one of my favorite cities in the world. Albert Park is a really challenging circuit, with high-speed corners and sudden braking; it feels like driving on a street circuit with the walls so close. I’ve driven here in F3 and F2 and it was exciting, so I’m looking forward to driving an F1 car on this iconic circuit. I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a child and it’s something I’ve worked for my whole life, so the fact that it’s coming true is truly special.. I can’t wait to get started and just wanted to thank everyone who has helped me settle in and feel as comfortable as possible so far!”
Another chapter
Also for Lawson a new parenthesis will open in Racing Bulls. Having taken over from Ricciardo in 2023 and 2024 (respectively following the Australian’s injury and subsequently due to the latter’s dismissal), the New Zealander will begin his first season with the team since the first race of the championship. In 2025, in fact, he was promoted to Red Bull, but his experience with the Anglo-Austrian team lasted only two races: “I’m super excited for round one in Melbourne, which marks the start of the new season. Even though the winter break was short, it was great to spend some time at home in New Zealand with friends and family to recharge and prepare physically for a challenging 2026. There are many unknowns this yearwith new regulations and new cars, which means we will continually learn and adapt throughout the year, and that’s exciting for the sport. The latest tests in Bahrain were an example of this: understanding the reliability of the car and the Power Unit, both reliable throughout the week. Preparation is key as we enter this new era of F1, so this is the constant focus. It will be as close as I can get to a home race in Australia, so I’m looking forward to meeting the local fans and taking in that atmosphere, which is always really special.”
