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Red Bull prodigy Arvid Lindblad is making waves in the Formula 1 paddock after stepping in for Max Verstappen during FP1 at the Mexican Grand Prix. The young F2 protégé, who continues to climb through the Red Bull ranks, impressed team officials and fans alike with his confident performance in what was a challenging and chaotic session at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Arvid Lindblad impresses in Max Verstappen’s seat
Lindblad, taking over Verstappen’s RB21 for the opening practice session, handled the immense pressure with composure well beyond his years. Finishing sixth overall and the highest-placed rookie, the British driver outpaced Yuki Tsunoda, further strengthening his candidacy for a potential 2026 Racing Bulls seat.
With Red Bull Racing expected to make critical lineup decisions for the upcoming season, Lindblad’s strong showing in Mexico could not have come at a better time. Reflecting on his performance, Arvid Lindblad shared his honest emotions about stepping into Max Verstappen’s championship-winning car.
“It was good. I mean, going into the session, I was a bit, I was quite nervous, obviously, also because of the situation we're in at the moment with the championship and stuff,” Lindblad explained.
“So it was even more important not to make any mistakes or do any damage. To be honest, I was just focused on trying to keep it clean and give good feedback, so also to be towards the front end of the time sheets, it was really good.”
Handling pressure like a pro
Despite the nerves, Lindblad maintained calm and consistency under the spotlight, a quality Red Bull has long admired in its top-tier drivers. His priority was precision over risk, a decision that clearly paid off as he returned the car “in one piece” after a clean and productive session.
“I think they were quite happy. I think the pace was decent; it's back in one piece. I think they thought my feedback was solid as well,” he added.
“So, from my side, there's not really much more I can do, just trying to point them in a good direction, but I think they're overall quite happy.”
A chaotic FP1 session tests the rookie
Arvid Lindblad’s experience wasn’t without obstacles. The FP1 session was disrupted by a major systems crash at F1’s Biggin Hill base, which affected data and GPS tracking across teams. On top of that, Lindblad received a stewards’ warning for impeding McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, an incident he later addressed with transparency.
“It was really difficult, it was super messy. I think we're quite often out of sequence, and then this guy's doing long runs, and it's really not easy on a pretty short track,” Lindblad said.
“It wasn't easy, and especially as a rookie, there are a lot of things to deal with. I think I've got a bit of work to do on that side, but it wasn't easy.”
Eyes on 2026 as Red Bull weighs its options
With his calm demeanor and consistent pace, Lindblad has positioned himself as a genuine contender for a full-time Racing Bulls seat in 2026 or maybe someone Red Bull can look up to as Max Verstappen's potential replacement. His adaptability, clean execution, and ability to deliver reliable feedback are qualities that align with Red Bull’s development philosophy.
As the team finalizes its future lineup, Arvid Lindblad’s Mexican GP performance could serve as a defining chapter in his rise through the Red Bull system — and possibly his gateway to Formula 1 stardom.
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