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Red Bull appears to have discovered its next big star in 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad, a prodigious British talent poised to follow in the footsteps of Max Verstappen. Currently vying for the rookie Formula Two title, Lindblad is being touted as a future Formula One sensation, potentially debuting on the F1 grid as early as 2026.
Remarkably, his entry into the top tier of motorsport could come even sooner. If Max Verstappen exceeds the penalty point threshold and receives a one-race suspension, Lindblad could step in likely behind Red Bull's preferred stand-ins Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar, offering him a fast-track debut before season’s end.
From Karting champion to F1 hopeful
Lindblad's motorsport journey mirrors that of many F1 greats, beginning in the competitive world of karting. Born in Surrey, he showed immense promise early on, securing second-place finishes in two major championships during his second full season. By 2018, he had clinched titles in both the LGM Series and the British Karting Championship.
His upward trajectory continued with strong performances at the Karting World Championships, where he secured fifth and third in successive years. Between 2020 and 2021, he added three more titles to his burgeoning résumé, solidifying his status as one of Britain’s most exciting young talents.
Rapid ascent through the ranks
Lindblad transitioned into single-seaters in 2022 and had an outstanding first full campaign in 2023, securing six wins en route to a third-place finish in the Italian F4 Championship. That performance earned him a promotion to Formula Three, making him the youngest competitor on the grid at just 16.
His F3 debut was nothing short of electrifying. He claimed victory in the season opener in Bahrain, followed by a feature race win in Spain, and then swept the weekend at Silverstone, cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Now competing in Formula Two, Lindblad has continued his stellar form. After 11 races, he boasts a 100% record of top-10 finishes and recently captured his first feature race victory in Spain. He currently trails championship leader Alex Dunne by just eight points.
A Lando Norris encounter that sparked a dream
In 2021, a 14-year-old Lindblad had a memorable interaction with McLaren star Lando Norris that further fueled his ambitions.
It was really just like a spur-of-the-moment [thing], Lindblad told Sky Sports. I was talking with my mate at the track, and we saw Lando.
I said to my mate, 'I'll be racing with him soon in F1' and my friend was like, 'you don't have the guts to tell him' and I wanted to prove him wrong! So I went straight up to Lando, and he was very kind about it. I said, 'It was nice to meet you and see you in five years'.
I got inspired by Lewis Hamilton telling Ron Dennis [he would join McLaren], and it was a similar kind of vibe, so it was just my friend egging me on! That was at the end of 2021, so hopefully I have a good year in F2 and hopefully I will be in F1 and stick to my word!
The next race will happen in the form of the Canadian Grand Prix from July 13th to July 15th.
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