Arvid Lindblad might only be 17, but his trajectory in motorsport has been nothing short of meteoric. The British-Indian-Swedish racer, nurtured within Red Bull’s famously ruthless junior programme, has now crossed a crucial threshold—earning enough super license points to be eligible for Formula 1. And if Helmut Marko’s words are anything to go by, Lindblad isn’t just another name on the Red Bull conveyor belt; he’s the next big thing.
Early Beginnings and Rise Through the Ranks
Born in London to a Swedish father and an Indian mother, Lindblad’s racing lineage isn’t built on legacy F1 names. His father, Stefan Lindblad, was a motocross racer before financial constraints forced him to step away from competition. That early exposure to motorsport, however, was enough to ignite a passion in Arvid. By the age of five, he was hooked on karting, and by 13, Red Bull had seen enough to sign him to their prestigious junior programme. From there, his rise has been a calculated sprint up the ranks of single-seater racing.
Lindblad’s career progression has been rapid but methodical. After dominating in karting, he jumped to Italian F4 with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2022 before moving to Prema Racing in 2023. His rookie season in Formula 3 saw him pull off a remarkable feat—winning both races at a single F3 weekend in Silverstone, an achievement that immediately put him in the title conversation. He finished fourth in the 2024 F3 championship, enough to earn him a promotion to Formula 2 with Campos Racing.
His first experience in an F2 car came in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, where he admitted to facing a learning curve with pit stops and different tyre compounds. Speaking to Autocar India, Lindblad said, “It was pretty good. Obviously, the car was quite different to what I was used to in F3, so I was just trying to get up to speed and a good feeling with that.” Yet, true to form, he adapted quickly. The off-season saw him rack up six victories in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand, securing enough points to claim his FIA Super License, an essential step towards an F1 debut.
Indian Roots and Future Prospects
Beyond the numbers and podiums, Lindblad carries a unique cultural connection to India. His mother’s side of the family hails from Punjab, and he recently spent time in India exploring his roots. His trip wasn’t just a personal journey—it also involved connecting with Red Bull’s motorsport network in the country. Speaking to News18, he shared, “We were doing loads of the touristy things, we spent time in Delhi, then we also went to Jaipur and Agra. So, it was really nice spending time with my family, also my grandparents, just exploring my roots.” He also visited the Buddh International Circuit, where he took part in drifting and karting activities. “I actually went to the Formula 1 circuit, we did some filming and interviews there, actually did some drifting there as well, and that was fun.”
For a young driver, Lindblad’s mindset is strikingly mature. He is clear about his ambitions—he doesn’t just want to reach Formula 1; he wants to be a world champion. “My dream is to be a Formula One driver," he said to Eastern Eye midway through the 2024 season. "I want to be a Formula One world champion.” His philosophy is simple: take it one step at a time, focusing on the small improvements that compound into long-term success.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s ever-watchful talent scout, has already earmarked him as a serious prospect. Speaking on the Inside Line F1 podcast, Marko stated, “We are not looking for a new Max Verstappen, we are looking for a new champion. And I think the next one which looks really promising is Arvid Lindblad, whose father is Swedish and the mother is Indian.” It’s high praise from a man known for his cutthroat evaluations, and given Red Bull’s driver pipeline, it’s no stretch to see Lindblad in a Formula 1 seat sooner rather than later. Red Bull’s current roster remains stable, but with Yuki Tsunoda’s future uncertain and the ever-present risk of seat reshuffling at AlphaTauri (or VCARB, as it is now known), Lindblad’s rise couldn’t be timed better. His eligibility for F1 means that, should an opening arise in 2026 or even earlier, he will be at the top of Red Bull’s list.
For now, Lindblad remains focused on the job at hand—conquering F2. His testing with Campos Racing has already shown promise, and with Red Bull’s backing, he has all the tools needed to make an impression. Whether he follows the traditional path of a dominant F2 campaign or gets fast-tracked into an F1 seat due to Red Bull’s notoriously aggressive promotion strategy, one thing is clear—he isn’t just another junior driver in the Red Bull system. He is their next big bet, and perhaps, their next champion.
