As just how far will this new F1 Hotschue’
progress?
Formula 1 Diehards will already know that this
year’s F1 Grid features only one new rookie driver, after last year’s Mega’
class of four, i.e.; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Jack Doohan,
remember Him Y’all? And Isack Hadjar. As Oliver Bearman wasn’t a rookie due to
having raced three Grands Prix in 2024. And Franco Colapinto had replaced Logan
Sargent at Williams the previous season…
Arvid
Lindblad
Team: Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team
Nationality: United Kingdom
Birthplace: Virginia Water, Surrey
DOB: August 8, 2007; Age: 18
Car No. 41
Once again, another fresh face Formula Uno
rookie Pilote I know nothing about. Other than reportedly He’s another Red Bull
Junior Driver prodigy. Having read that current Racing Bulls F1 team Boss Alan
Bat’ Permane says He’s very similar to Isack Hadjar, i.e.; Calm, cool ‘n
collected. Asking many questions and soaking in everything like a sponge,
whilst simply getting on with the “Job”.
Arvid’s father Stefan is Swedish, wile His Mum’
Anita is of Indian decent, along with a grandmother who was one of the oldest
practicing GP’s in England. Noting He’d like to work on improving His Swedish
and Hindi language skills. While He also has a younger brother named Amil.
Arvid’s father gave Him a Scooter’ (Motorcycle)
at Age 3 before switching to Go Karts at Age 5, beginning at Daytona Sandown
Park.
In 2015 at Age 9, Arvid began competitive
Karting with His mentor being Oliver Rowlan, before winning the 2020 WSK Super
Master Series OKJ Class.
That was the first of His multiple Karting
championships, joining the Red Bull Junior Driver Academy in 2021.
Lindblad made His single seater debut in 2022
in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing. In
2023, Lindblad secured His first single seater victory in the UAE F4
championship at the Dubai Autodrome.
Next, Arvid contested the Italian F4
championship, driving for Prema Racing. Collecting six wins, but ultimately
finishing third overall after His massive points lead evaporated.
Another win came in the Euro 4 championship,
followed by a stellar weekend at Macau. Securing the F4 pole and winning His
qualification race. Punctuated by winning the main race the day after.
For 2024, Lindblad remained with Prema Racing,
graduating to the Formula 3 championship. His teammates were Gabriele Mini and
Dino Beganovic.
Lindblad scored a Sprint race win in Bahrain.
Then claiming His first Feature race win at Barcelona. Before making further
history at Silverston, where He became the first F3 driver to win the “Double”.
Taking wins in both the Sprint and Feature races and vaulting to second in the
championship.
Yet what seems to be a tendency of Lindblad’s,
He once again faltered down the stretch, not scoring any mor “needed” points
results in the final three rounds, and dropping to fourth overall at season’s
end.
Yet Arvid “Broke His Duck” by crushing the Competizione
in the 2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship with six poles and six wins.
Winning His first title by 56points over
Kiwi’ Zack Scoular. Whilst Nikita Johnson, who’d been second much of the
season, slid to third overall, 65 points adrift of Lindblad.
As Johnson will contest this year’s Indy NXT championship
driving for Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR. Along with a fulltime drive for
Rahal Letterman Racing in IMSA GTD Pro, aboard their factory McLaren 720S Evo.
Lindblad graduated to Formula 2, joining Campos
Racing for the 2025 season. Scoring His first win in the Jeddah Sprint race,
after Richard Verschoor was penalized.
Barcelona was Arvid’s high water mark of the
season. Claiming two pole positions and scoring the feature win at Campos home
track.
Afterwards, a spate of collisions, a
disquification, etc. Lindblad ultimately slid to sixth overall by season’s end.
Although claiming His second Sprint race victory in Abu Dhabi, netting three
wins overall that year.
As Arvid’s wins in Formula 3 and Formula 2 made
Him the youngest driver ever to do so in both series…
Having been a Red Bull Junior Driver member
since 2021, Lindblad drove His very first Formula 1 chassis, a Red Bull RB8
during a demonstration run in Houston in 2024.
He completed His first private test in an
AlphaTauri AT04 at Imola the following February. A second test in the same
chassis followed in June.
Lindblad took part in a promotional “gimmick”
of racing three Leeds United F.C. “Footballers” on foot in a Red Bull RB7 at
Elland Raud, also that June. Before Red Bull requested an early FIA Super
License for the 17yr old, a la Kimi Antonelli’s earlySuper License
dispensation.
Arvid made His Free Practice debut at the
British Grand Prix, finishing P14 in the morning’s (Free Practice) FP1 session.
Presumably Lindblad gained Attenzione by
finishing sixth in FP1 in Mexico City as Max Verstappen’s “replacement”. Before
a third and final FP outing in the season finale on Yas Isle as Yuki Tsunoda’s
replacement.
Then in December, Racing Bulls announced Lindblad as Liam Lawson’s new Racing Bulls teammate for 2026, before taking part in the post Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Young Drivers test session…
