Arvid Lindblad has always been on the move.
He raced in Formula 4 in 2023, Formula 3 in 2024 and Formula 2 in 2025. This year he is in Formula 1 with Racing Bulls. He’s 18.
“I’ve always been the youngest in every category,” Lindblad said in an interview in February. “Every time I could move up a category, I always did. I’m very used to being thrown in the deep end and kind of having to figure it out. It is incredibly difficult to get to Formula 1. And to do that step, you have to be a bit different and do something that people aren’t expecting.”
He will be the fourth-youngest racer in history and the only rookie this year.
Red Bull’s junior program had a history of supporting promising young talent, even before debuting with its second Formula 1 team, Racing Bulls, which has had various team names over the years. Lindblad’s predecessor, Isack Hadjar, debuted with Racing Bulls in 2025 before joining Red Bull Racing for 2026.
“Arvid has been very good to work with so far,” said Alan Permane, team principal of Racing Bulls. “He’s in the position he is in because we believe he’s quick; we believe in his speed. He’s ready to learn, he’s inquisitive and he’s asking a lot of questions. Certainly, in this preseason phase, we’re really happy with everything he’s done, and he’s working hard to make sure he’s starting the season in the best possible way.”
Permane, who has worked in Formula 1 since the late 1980s, said Lindblad’s youth “is the biggest difference to a lot of drivers I’ve worked with, he’s very young and inexperienced, but that’s part of our deal and why Racing Bulls exists, to bring in young and inexperienced drivers.”
Lindblad, of England, was drawn to racing by his father and grandfather, neither of whom raced, but were enthusiasts. He was given a motocross bike at 3 by his father, but “didn’t have that immediate love for it.” Even though his mother wasn’t hugely keen, it wasn’t long before four wheels captured his attention.
“When I was 4, I remember very well my dad was sitting on the sofa watching F1,” he said. “I sat down next to him and was asking, like, is it possible to get there one day? How does it work? Could I do it?”
Lindblad was taken karting and “from that moment I knew I wanted to be in Formula 1. We went a few times, because my dad wanted to check that I liked it. I was very persistent that I wanted to do it, liked it, and wanted a proper kart, and properly start driving.”
During the summer Lindblad was 7, his parents moved to a different town and he briefly lived with his grandparents during the move. There were karting tracks nearby.
“I was going there almost every day for the summer,” he said. “And that was really when it kicked off.”
Lindblad picked up backing from Red Bull when he was 13. At the end of 2021, after he had won multiple titles in karting, Lando Norris of McLaren, now the reigning drivers’ champion, visited the paddock where Lindblad was karting. He went up to Norris.
“He was launching his go-kart [brand], and he was walking in the paddock, and I wanted to go up to him. I said to my friend, ‘I’m going to go up and say something to him.’ And he was just like, ‘no, no.”
But Lindblad did. He said to Norris, ‘I want you to remember me, I’ll see you in five years.’” There is a video of that interaction, which resurfaced when Lindblad was signed for 2026.
“I knew at the time what the rules were and what was possible,” Lindblad said. “If everything went perfectly, if I did one year in each category, I could get to Formula 1 in 2026. Things have gone well.”
Norris sent Lindblad a message after his 2026 seat was confirmed. Since then, “we’ve had a few interactions,” said Lindblad. “He’s always been very friendly.”
Lindblad will also share the grid with another driver he grew up watching.
Lewis Hamilton “was the one I sort of looked up to,” he said. “He was obviously winning all the world championships at the time. His rookie season was the year I was born, which I thought was a cool connection and obviously was the only driver of color as well.”
It is “cool to share the track with him,” Lindblad said.
He has ambitions for this year but cautioned “it’s hard to sort of make outcome goals,” given the unknown nature of Formula 1’s hierarchy under its new rules. “I’m more just focused on working hard with the team, trying to get as prepared as I can for the year.”
Lindblad, who carries a confidence that belies his age, is relishing the task.
“I’m looking forward to driving the fastest cars in the world against the best drivers,” he said.
“Sometimes I take a step back and realize, like, it’s a pretty crazy life and world that I live in. I get paid to drive incredibly fast, refined cars around the world. I’m very fortunate on that side. It’s a good life.”
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