Red Bull’s 17-Year-Old Arvid Lindblad Granted F1 Super Licence After FIA Exemption

Red Bull’s British junior driver Arvid Lindblad has been awarded an FIA Formula 1 super licence following a successful request for a special exemption by the team.

Normally, super licences, which are mandatory to compete in F1, are only granted to drivers aged 18 or older who have accumulated enough qualifying points through results in lower formula series over the past three years.

However, a rule revision introduced last year allows the FIA to grant dispensation to exceptional 17-year-olds who have “recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition.”

Lindblad, currently third in his debut Formula 2 season with two wins, fits this criterion. Earlier this year, he won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, securing enough points to qualify for a super licence once he turns 18. He also finished fourth in his only F3 season in 2024. Lindblad’s 18th birthday is on August 8.

Red Bull’s exemption request, submitted several weeks ago, was reviewed and approved by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council at its latest meeting in Macau—the first since late February.

The council stated: “After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request.”