Arvid Lindblad discusses his 2026 F1 Dutch GP after a drive-through penalty meant the 19-year-old missed out on points. Racing Bulls were unable to score points in Zandvoort, Yuki Tsunoda finished P11 while Lindblad crossed the line in P12.
Lindblad criticises penalty he received in Zandvoort
Max Verstappen crashed out of the 2026 F1 Dutch GP at the end of lap 1. Lindblad was one of the drivers behind Verstappen and had to take avoiding action. The Briton overtook Pierre Gasly in the process under yellow flag conditions and was handed a drive-through penalty.
Lindblad spoke after the race criticising the decision, labeling it as “extreme”. He also explained that without the penalty he would have finished in the points as he had been the lead midfield runner in P8 following that illegal pass.
“I mean, we were in a really good position after the first lap. I think the penalty is a bit harsh, I think we can all agree it’s quite extreme. But fine, it is what it is, there’s no point speculating about it now, it’s done.
“Just a bit sad, because I think that kind of ruined our race, but then after that we actually executed quite a strong one. I think there’s a few things we could have done better, but regardless it was a very good race. I’m just sad not to get any points, because I think I and the team, we deserve that.
“And no doubt that without the penalty we would have been in P8 today.”
Arvid Lindblad wasn’t the only driver to recieve a penalty during the race. Franco Colapinto was handed a drive-through penalty for overtaking under yellow flags at the same time on Yuki Tsunoda.
After the race, Lindblad was asked whether he thinks that the stewards should have been moe lenient based on the circumstances.
“I don’t know, I think the reality is you look at my onboard, I mean, it’s like, what was actually so wrong?
“I felt like they were more setting a precedent today, than actually weighing up the offence and having the penalty for it. Yeah, I don’t really know, I don’t want to say too much.”
Lindblad discusses the pace of the VCARB 03 at the 2026 F1 Dutch GP
The 2026 Dutch GP started with a slightly damp track. Every driver started the race on slicks having to be cautious to avoid white lines and a wet area at the end of the lap.
Speaking after the race Lindblad discussed how the opening laps felt in the cockpit.
“The whole track was dry apart from two corners. So, I was just trying to stay, find the dry patches and survive, and I’d done that. I was P8, I was the best of the rest, and that’s how I was.”
After Lindblad’s penalty affected his race, Racing Bulls decided to play the team game to maximise their results.
Gasly expressed his frustration with Racing Bulls after he spent 17 laps stuck behind Arvid Lindblad, which helped his Japanese teammate through. Ultimately the Frenchman got the place back later on Tsunoda, however.
“I don’t know, I think that’s a nice story. In the end, I played the team game. If he has a good memory, then fine.
“We all fight as hard as we can every weekend. I tried to help the team where I could. The reality was my race.
“I wasn’t really in it anymore, so I did what I could to help the team.”
Lindblad admitted that the VCARB 03 had good pace and if it wasn’t for his penalty he would have scored good points once again at the 2026 F1 Dutch GP.
“I think it was pretty good. I haven’t seen everything, but I think I would have been P8 without the penalty, so I think we can be happy. I don’t think we started the weekend in the easiest way.
“We were a little bit on the back foot, but I made some steps. The team made some steps on the car, and on this proper format, the quali and the race today, we were the best of the rest. A bit of a shame not to come away with any points.”
