Arvid Lindblad delivered a masterclass in race management to secure his first F2 Feature Race victory at the Spanish GP. The British driver controlled proceedings from pole position to chequered flag in a performance that announced his arrival as a genuine title contender.
The 17-year-old Red Bull junior capitalised on his pole position to lead from start to finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, managing tyre degradation expertly whilst fending off challenges from Sebastián Montoya and Richard Verschoor to claim a breakthrough victory for Campos Racing.
Speaking after his triumph, Lindblad could barely contain his delight. “Obviously I’m incredibly happy,” he said. “It’s been a really good weekend and yeah, to finish off the triple header like this and to do it at home for the team is amazing. Overall, it’s been just an amazing weekend, really fast all throughout, and I’m looking forward to Austria next.”
A victory built on strategy and speed
The victory was built on a foundation of strategic nous and tyre management rather than raw pace alone. Starting on the preferred soft compound, Lindblad had to navigate the threat posed by drivers on the alternative hard tyre strategy, whilst managing degradation across both stints.
“So obviously, the strategy, we knew was going to be important. I mean the first objective was just to maintain the lead and then try not to abuse too much the tyres in the first two, three laps and then just try to pull the gap and I guess extend the first in,” Lindblad explained. “And then yeah, just sort of manage it, manage it from there. The deg was still quite big on both compounds so it wasn’t easy but yeah, just a lot of management as expected.”
The threat from the alternative strategy runners was real. Drivers like Alex Dunne and Jak Crawford attempted to use their later pit stops to gain track position. However, Lindblad’s early pace advantage during the F2 Spanish GP proved decisive.
“I knew there was a risk because I mean the alternate strategy is faster, we’ve seen that in previous years,” he acknowledged. “I knew that I had to look after the tyres well, leave a bit in reserve just in case there was an unfortunate safety car or something. But yeah, we didn’t really, that kind of worked out in our favour today and I think the pace was still good enough throughout to have a good buffer.”
Championship surge
The victory at the F2 Spanish GP propelled Lindblad from sixth to third in the championship standings. This puts him firmly in contention for the title with over half the season remaining. The young Briton has shown remarkable consistency since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, suggesting this breakthrough victory was no fluke.
“I don’t know, I mean I’d like to hope that we’d sort of challenge and ideally win the feature race there as well, but I think that’s everyone’s goal,” Lindblad said when asked about his prospects for the next round in Austria. “So we’ll see, I think since Jeddah I made a good step forward, and I feel the whole of this triple header we’ve been really competitive. In Imola we were fighting for the win in the feature race, Monaco as well we were right in the game.”
This consistency has been built on strong fundamentals and the support of his Campos Racing team, who have provided him with increasingly competitive machinery.
“So I feel like the last couple rounds we’ve been there. So I think just keep doing what we’re doing, keep focussing on the basics, doing everything in our control right and then yeah we’ll see where we end up, but I have full faith in the team. They’ve given me a really strong package the last couple weekends, so I’m sure we’ll be right at the sharp end in the coming races.”
Mentorship and development
Behind Lindblad’s rapid ascent lies the guidance of experienced mentor Oliver Rowland, the former F2 race winner who now competes and leads the Championship in Formula E. Their relationship extends far beyond the typical driver-mentor dynamic, having known each other since Lindblad was just seven years old.
“I’m very fortunate to be working with Oli. I’ve known Oli since I was seven so we go way back. To be honest, at this point it’s not even so much that he’s he’s almost more like family than anything, but yeah, it wasn’t that long ago that he was racing here in F2, so he knows the game very well,” Lindblad revealed.
Rowland’s recent experience in the championship has proved invaluable for the young driver navigating his rookie F2 campaign.
“He’s currently racing in Formula E in the championship there, so he’s very experienced in motorsport. He knows what he’s doing and me being sort of quite young and inexperienced, having his guidance has helped me a lot to come through the ranks and perform well. I’m extremely lucky and fortunate to be working with Oli, and he’s played a massive part in my development and helped me to be where I am today.”
Looking ahead to the next round in Austria
As the championship heads to Austria for the next round, Lindblad finds himself in an enviable position. The triple-header of Monaco, Imola, and Spain has established him as a consistent frontrunner, and his maiden victory will have provided a crucial confidence boost.
The Red Bull junior’s measured approach to risk management—crucial in the close racing that characterises F2—suggests he has the temperament to sustain a championship challenge.
“Coming to the end of the triple header is nice because it gives us a bit of a break now to sort of look over the work that’s been done to improve for the following rounds,” he noted, when asked by Pit Debrief. “Normally in the way the sort of single-seater is at the moment, it’s not that easy to pass. When you get an opportunity you need to be very committed and go for it.”
With his first win now secured and momentum firmly on his side, Arvid Lindblad has established himself as a driver to watch. His commanding performance in Spain suggests this breakthrough victory may be the first of many.
