Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad will drive Max Verstappen’s RB21 for FP1 in Mexico later this week. In addition to his TPC program with Racing Bulls, this will mark the 18 year-old’s second FP1 appearance, following his debut earlier this year at Silverstone. During Thursday’s media session in Baku, Lindblad spoke to Pit Debrief and other media outlets about Red Bull’s plans for his future and how his Formula 1 prospects are shaping up as 2026 slowly approaches.
A goal and promise sealed with a handshake from Norris
A few years ago, cameras captured a young Lindblad approaching McLaren’s Lando Norris, shaking his hand, and telling him to remember his name—promising they’d meet on the Formula 1 grid in five years. Fast forward to today, the young Briton now stands on the brink of fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver.
Since his single-seater debut in 2022, the 18 year-old has progressed through the ranks extremely quickly. The Briton has spent roughly a season in each category before taking the next step up the single-seater ladder the following year. Along the way, he has broken numerous records and become Formula 2’s youngest-ever race winner and pole sitter this year. However, he shared that his plans for the future are yet to fall in place. Noting that while it’s been exciting to hear his name linked to a potential full-time seat in Formula 1 next year, Lindblad emphasised that his focus remains on completing his Formula 2 campaign.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a funny story. I mean, when I was five, when I started this journey, I had the dream of becoming Formula One World Champion. I had that same sort of determination and drive, what was it, four years ago when I said that to Lando and I have the same today.”
“So we’ll see what happens. Obviously, it’s quite cool that there’s rumours being attached to me for next year in F1, but I still don’t know about my future. I’m still very focused on F2. So yeah, we’ll see what happens.”
Red Bull Junior Team assessment of performance and development
In 2020, Red Bull began supporting Lindblad before officially signing him as a full-time member of the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team in 2022. Currently 7th in the Drivers’ Standings with 109 points, Lindblad’s two wins and two further podiums make for a decent rookie Formula 2 season. However, as always, the Red Bull programme closely monitors its young drivers and their developments throughout the year.
2025 marks the Briton’s fifth year with the team. He expressed gratitude to Helmut Marko and the team’s Head of Driver Academy Guillaume Rocquelin for guiding his development throughout the junior ranks. Overall, Lindblad acknowledged that he has performed well this year, but struggles to gauge how Red Bull’s senior management would view his season.
“Yeah, I mean, yeah, I joined the Red Bull programme at the end of 2020. So yeah, it’s my fifth year on the Red Bull programme. And I’m very grateful to everyone at Red Bull, but especially Dr. [Helmut] Marko and Rocky [Guillaume Rocquelin] for helping me develop a lot through the ranks. I mean, to get an honest opinion, you have to ask them what their view is on how my season’s gone.”
“Yeah, it’s not easy for me to answer. I think it’s been, I think in general, I’ve done a good job. There’s been a lot of things that have been out of my control. So I mean, yeah, I don’t know. It’s hard for me to answer how they see the year.”
More F1 outings this year?
Since obtaining his super licence, Lindblad has taken part in testing with Racing Bulls and made his FP1 debut with Red Bull at Silverstone. Ahead of the 2025 F1 Mexico GP, the team announced that he would drive Verstappen’s RB21 for his second FP1 outing.
When asked in Baku last month whether Red Bull had any other plans to put him in a Formula 1 car, Lindblad responded at the time: “I don’t know yet. I’d like to drive again. I had a lot of fun in Silverstone. So yeah, I don’t know. We’ll see. Like I said before, I’m just focused on F2, especially trying to have a good weekend here because I think that will give me the best chance to get an F1 car again.”
The 18 year-old’s name continues to circulate the Formula 1 paddock whenever discussions arise about who might fill a seat at Racing Bulls next year. With both Racing Bulls seats and Red Bull’s second seat still unconfirmed, the futures of Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda remain uncertain, though Hadjar currently stands as the favourite to partner the four-time World Champion in 2026.
Staying focused on F2 with F1 seat rumours looming
The 18-year-old endured a challenging weekend in Monza, one of his tougher moments this year. However, with his name still frequently linked to a Formula 1 seat, he emphasized that he doesn’t dwell on past setbacks. Instead, he focuses on the present, blocks out distractions, and concentrates on driving fast, refusing to let a single poor weekend define his career.
“Yes, I mean, I’m aware of it. I wouldn’t say that I’m not paranoid trying to completely remove everything. I’m not really that focused on it. I’m just focused on staying in the moment. I don’t think Monza really makes a difference in a sense. Obviously, Monza wasn’t a good weekend, but my career is not going to be decided on one race. So, no, I’m very focused on just blocking out the noise and staying in the present and just trying to drive fast.”
Over the years, many notable motorsport talents have emerged from the Red Bull Junior Programme. Lindblad follows in the footsteps of drivers like Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr., Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon. The programme has built a reputation as one of the most successful and influential junior development systems in motorsport, having nurtured multiple world champions. As Lindblad stands on the verge of reaching his dreams, just two rounds remain in the Formula 2 season for him to showcase his talent in hopes of securing a full-time seat next year.
