Look out for Lindblad, as Arvid makes F1 arrival in Australia

Look out for Formula One’s freshest face and the sole debutant in the 2026 world championship, in Racing Bulls’ 18-year old Arvid Lindblad.

Becoming the 18^th driver to represent the Red Bull junior team in 21 seasons of competition, the Briton – who also boasts Swedish and Indian heritage – graduates to F1 after a sixth place finish in F2 last year.  

As well as commanding the Formula Regional Oceania championship a.k.a Toyota Racing Series, with five wins from pole position en route to the title.  

Speaking ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Lindblad relished the challenge ahead and soaked in the feeling of reaching the summit of earning a seat on the exclusive F1 grid.

“I’m feeling good. This is what I’ve been working towards my whole life,” said the 2025 Formula Regional Oceania champion.

“This was my goal, my dream, when I started when I was five, so the fact that it’s coming true is obviously something I’m very excited for.”

Acknowledging too that increased demand in commitments as an F1 driver, between the media and sponsors. As well as even the fan engagement, which Lindblad said was ‘quite different to what he’s used to’.

“It’s a lot busier than in F2 and F3. There’s a lot more people in this room than I’m used to. There’s more media, there’s just a bit more everything.

“In F1 everything’s a step up, so it’s a different vibe. There’s a bit more going on, but I’m just trying to stay focused on the important bit, which is the driving.”

In terms of the driving, Lindblad impressed in Friday practice, ending the day with quicker lap times than his third-year teammate Liam Lawson, as well as Isack Hadjar who earnt a promotion to Red Bull Racing for 2026 off the back of an impressive rookie season last year.

Heading into qualifying, the Briton is well placed – almost in the same vein as his predecessor Hadjar twelve months ago. Lindblad got in a final soft tyre run in FP3, after the session was red flagged at the end due to Kimi Antonelli crashing at the exit of Turn 2. Ending up ahead again of Lawson who aborted his final flier.

Perhaps with the entire field of drivers needing to collectively recalibrate themselves to the new style of driving, with the excessive energy management required – it may be the right time for Lindblad to enter the sport.

“I think for all of us, we’re trying to get up to speed with these new regulations,” elaborated Lindblad.  

“Obviously the car is different, tyres different, but I think the biggest thing is the engine, and just with the energy, different techniques, the different ways you have to drive, trying to find tricks with the team to get the most out of the package. That’s the main thing that we’re working through and trying to get on top of.

“In the end a race car is a race car, it’s got a throttle and a brake, but the energy is a bigger aspect. It’s not always about just being flat out, it’s about being more energy-aware, about if you can be more efficient. That’s a bigger element than it has been in the past.”

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Written by

Jawad Yaqub

An eCommerce Specialist by day and reporting on F1 by night. Jawad is passionate about motorsport, having provided accredited F1 coverage for more than a decade and is a member of the AIPS (International Sports Press Association). Live blogging (almost) every grand prix too since 2014, as well as articles on the Supercars Championship. Also keen on sustainability, photography, collecting vinyl, (trying to) expertly barbeque and learning to Dad.

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