2025 F2 graduate Arvid Lindblad was the next driver to step up to Formula 1 in 2026 with Racing Bulls, following a successful season with Campos Racing last year. The Briton joined the 2026 F1 grid as the sole rookie of the year after finishing 6th in the 2025 F2 Drivers’ Standings with 134 points, including three wins and two podiums.
Three races into the 2026 F1 season, the 18 year-old sits 11th in the Drivers’ Standings, having scored points on debut and only trails his experienced teammate Liam Lawson by just six points. Speaking to Formula 2 in celebration of the championship’s tenth year, the newest graduate reflected on his time in the championship.
Lindblad: A lot of learnings from F2 carried forward into F1
The 18 year-old has climbed the ranks rapidly, spending roughly a year at each level before moving up. Most notably, he claimed the 2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship title and triumphed in the Macau Grand Prix Formula 4 race in 2023. Reflecting on his time in F2, he highlighted the significant differences between the championships and noted how much of what he learned in F2 he has carried forward into Formula 1.
Lindblad said: “F2 is very different. The format of how the weekends are and everything is very different to F1, it’s a very challenging Championship, so it teaches you a lot.
“There’s a lot you learn from it so I’d say on that side there’s a lot of learnings I have taken from last year. Obviously, the cars are now very different in F1 so on that side it will be different, but I think it’s a challenging series and there’s a lot of learnings that I had last year that I can take forward into this year.”
Reflecting on his journey, Lindblad shared a piece of advice for the new F2 rookies that has stuck with him from the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button.
“I met Jenson Button at the 2014 British Grand Prix and he said to me always work hard and drive smooth, and that is a piece of advice I’ve always remembered.”
Cherishing record-breaking wins and off-track moments in F2
The Briton reflected fondly on his time in the championship, noting that his favourite weekend came in Barcelona, where he stormed to pole and victory at Campos’ home race. Having broken records as the youngest ever race winner in Formula 2, Lindblad reflected on a year full of achievements.
“I’d say favourite win was the Barcelona Feature Race. That was just a really good weekend, it was just a lot of fun and it went really well.
“My favourite moment though was winning the Jeddah Sprint and being the youngest ever F2 race winner. My favourite overtake I think was my move on Leonardo Fornaroli in the Feature Race in Abu Dhabi. It was quite good.”
However, for Lindblad, sharing a garage with his good friend Nikola Tsolov was an off-track memory he’ll cherish from his time in Formula 2. The 18 year-old shared the Abu Dhabi Sprint podium with Tsolov, who had just completed a successful F3 campaign with Campos Racing where he finished vice-champion. The Bulgarian made his Formula 2 debut at the penultimate round in Qatar, replacing Pepe Martí, who had departed for a full-time seat in Formula E.
“I mean it wasn’t on track, it was in the paddock but I’m really good friends with Nikola Tsolov. So when he came and joined Campos in the last two rounds it was just a really good vibe in the team and I just enjoyed sharing the garage with him.”
Thankful for his Formula 2 journey
“It feels good. Obviously, I’ve been working towards getting to F1 my whole life so I’m very proud now to be making that step, so a big thanks to F2″, he admitted.
Last year marked a significant moment for the championship and its graduates, as six Formula 2 drivers stepped up to the Formula 1 grid, while an F2 graduate was crowned World Champion for the first time.
Out of the 22 drivers on the 2026 F1 grid, 12 are Formula 2 graduates, a testament to how successfully the championship continues to develop talent for the pinnacle of motorsport. However, he ultimately credited Formula 2 for providing drivers with a strong foundation that allows them to progress to F1.
Lindblad added: “I think full credit to them, because over the last couple of years there’s been a lot of drivers that have made the step to F1, so obviously it shows that it’s a good preparation.”
