Arvid Lindblad has impressed in his first Formula One season, scoring points regularly and keeping pace with more experienced drivers.
The Racing Bulls rookie has reached Q3 in 11 of the 17 Grand Prix this season. He is the only driver outside the big four of Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull to reach the final part of qualifying at least 10 times.
The 19-year-old sits 11th in the drivers’ championship with 38 points and has scored in eight of his last 10 Grand Prix.
Plenty of highs with a few lows
Lindblad made an immediate impression on his Formula One debut in Australia, finishing eighth after briefly climbing from ninth to third on the opening lap before dropping back. His fearlessness to battle near the front showed confidence in his ability. In the chaos of lap one, he also overtook Red Bull's senior driver Isack Hadjar.
His standout result came in Monaco, where he started 15th and finished sixth in an eventful race. A late safety car followed by a red flag and penalties for other drivers helped move him up the order.
He then finished seventh at Silverstone, his home Grand Prix, and in Azerbaijan, where he recovered from 15th on the grid to finish seventh as well. In Malaysia, he adapted to changing conditions in a rain-affected race to finish 10th and secure a valuable point for his team.
There have been difficult weekends too. He finished 14th in both Japan and Miami, while a DNS due to a clutch issue prevented him from starting the Canadian Grand Prix after finishing in eighth in the sprint race a day earlier.
Another promising Red Bull graduate
Red Bull's junior programme has produced world champions like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as Grand Prix winners in Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo.
Lindblad's rise through the junior categories has been rapid. He became the youngest race winner in both Formula 3 and Formula 2 before stepping up to Formula One with Racing Bulls in 2026. He is the only rookie on this season's grid.
With Hadjar establishing himself alongside Verstappen, a quick promotion to the senior team may be difficult. But if Lindblad continues to deliver, the Milton Keynes team should be wary that it may only be a matter of time before teams come knocking on the door for the young star.
