I always believed I could be in F1 when I started this journey: Lindblad

In 2025, Formula One (F1) saw six rookies make their debuts, ushering in a generational change. Next year, one more driver will join the list. Widely tipped as the one with the potential to become the next big star, Arvid Lindblad will make his debut for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. The British teen, who also has Indian heritage, has risen rapidly through the junior categories. Recently, Lindblad was in India, and The Hindu caught up with the new kid on the block, who spoke about his journey and anticipation for the upcoming challenge.

It has been a rapid rise from karting, and now you have made it to F1. How have you coped with the challenge?

I don’t know. To be honest, I think I just take it in my stride. I think some challenges have come with it. I’ve come very quickly, which means I’ve been inexperienced compared to the people I’ve been racing against in the last couple of years, and will be even more so next year in F1. But there’s nothing I can really do to change that. It is what it is, so I’m just focused on working hard with the team, on the sim, in the factory, with the engineers, trying to do everything I can to get prepared for next year, because that’s all I can do. The rest, there’s nothing I can do about it.

You famously told Lando Norris that you would meet him in F1 in five years. Now that you have kept up with that timeline, how prepared do you think you are?

I think it’s not an easy question to answer. It’s funny you pick up on the Lando story and how it’s all come back around.

I always believed I could be in F1 when I started this journey, and I had that same belief and determination on that day, and I still do today. If I’m being honest, I don’t really know. I don’t know if I’m fully prepared.

Maybe I’m not 100% ready, but what I will say is that I’m very used to being thrown in the deep end. Every year, I’ve had to be pushed into a new category. So I’m used to being in this position where, as I said, I’m in the deep end, and I have to figure a way out.

So I don’t know if I’m fully ready, but I have complete confidence in myself that I’ll figure it out and find a way to deal with it.

Can you talk about your background and how that has shaped you as a person?

I’m very lucky to have been brought up in a very multicultural background. I think that’s really shaped who I am. I carry a lot of my parents’ values from India, England, and Sweden, like hard work, determination, always giving your best, and staying humble. I think it comes from that sort of background and culture that I’ve been brought up in, and that diversity that has really shaped who I am today.

You have spoken about dreaming about this since you were five years old. What made you realise this is what you want to do?

It all started through my paternal side of the family. My paternal grandfather is an avid motorsports fan. He would watch anything with wheels and an engine. He absolutely loves it. And when my dad was in his teens, they started racing motocross together.

Unfortunately, they didn’t really have the money, so my dad had to stop very early. So he only did it for a little while, but that sort of passion was passed down to my dad. So when I was three, my dad bought me a motocross bike, and I didn’t really have an instant love for it. It was a bit too much for my mum as well, so that sort of died out quite quickly. But then, when I was five, I went karting for the first time. And I don’t know, I loved it from the beginning, and I don’t really know why, but I just loved it, and I always had this belief that I could be in F1, and it was always what I was working towards.

I get a lot of questions about when the dream felt real, all that sort of stuff. And for me, it’s always hard to answer. I mean, for sure, when I was in F3 or F4, it started to feel more real.

But to me, when I started this journey, it was a hobby, but at the same time, not really. I always had this goal and dream of being in F1, and that was what I was always working towards. I was determined to make it.

How much of a role has the Red Bull Junior Programme played in shaping your career, and how was the culture and expectations growing up with a lot of drivers who were also looking to do the same thing?

I’m grateful to the whole Red Bull and the Red Bull Junior Programme for the support they’ve given me. I joined the programme at the end of 2020, so this was my fifth year, and they’ve really helped me develop into the driver I am today. I’ve risen through the ranks very quickly as a Red Bull Junior.

I did my first two years in karting, so when I came through the single-seater ladder, it was really with the programme. And I wouldn’t have been able to take the steps I have without the sort of guidance, knowledge, and expertise of, especially, Dr. (Helmut) Marko and Rocky (Guillaume Rocquelin, former race engineer for four-time World champion Sebastian Vettel). I will always be extremely grateful to both of them because the help they’ve given me has enabled me to take the steps I’ve taken and given me this opportunity.

What sort of role did Dr. Marko personally play in your life in shaping you?

I have a perfect relationship with Dr. Marko. We’ve always got along very well. It’s funny because I hear stories about how he’s not the easiest for some drivers and stuff, but for me, he’s always been really good. I’ve always had a good relationship with him. We’ve always been very open with one another, you know.

I don’t think either of us really likes excuses, and we just say the truth and how it is, and because of that sort of honest relationship we had, it really helped me develop, and I’ve learned a lot from him.

How were your FP1 sessions this year, and what were the learnings from them?

Yeah, my first one was at Silverstone, which was obviously a very special moment. To participate in my first F1 session at home with my whole family there as well was a very, very special moment. I’m very grateful to everyone at Red Bull for the opportunity.

It wasn’t very easy, also because it was an F2 weekend, so I was sort of jumping between the categories. I remember it was stressful, running between the F2 and the F1 paddock. So it wasn’t easy, and also because, you know, the cars are so different. I don’t think people appreciate the step, just because F2 is the penultimate run on the ladder, but it’s massively different.

It’s impressive how fast the F1 cars are. Everything is on a whole other level. It feels like everything’s happening at twice the speed.

So it was a fantastic driving experience. There were so many vibes, we loved it in the car. It was a very special moment to share the garage alongside Max (Verstappen), just because of what he’s doing at the moment in the sport.

How would you reflect on the F2 season? You closed out with a win in Abu Dhabi. What were your learnings and challenges that you faced?

I’m not very happy with the F2 season, to be honest. I think, yes, there were some good moments, but there were a few too many difficult days. There was a lot that I learned throughout the year, especially about myself and how to get the best out of myself, what I need and all that sort of stuff.

I think on the on-track side, F2 is so unique and so different to F1, especially since it’s hard to really pick out things that I learned in F2 that are really easy to translate to F1, other than the obvious things. It wasn’t an easy year, but I also think that’s good because you learn more through difficult moments than the good ones. I had a little bit of everything.

So it wasn’t always the most enjoyable, but I’ve learned a lot, and I’m really grateful for the year I had and the lessons I can now carry forward.

Compared to the categories you have raced so far, F1 is going to be a longer, physically and mentally taxing season. So, what are your preparations for that?

It will be very different. It’s going to be very different to what I’m used to on all sides. The year is longer; it’s a lot more taxing.

The life of an F1 driver is generally busier. Then, on top of that, obviously, the sport is going to change a lot next year. There are new regulations on the chassis and power unit side.

So it’s a significant change for everyone, and it won’t be easy. There are a lot of things that I’m going to have to get up to speed with, even on the basic stuff, how busy the season is, to be able to deal with that, always to be fresh. But then also working very closely with the team, because the regulation change is massive, because it’s both the power unit and chassis, I think it’s going to be like starting from the beginning for everyone.

Which is not easy, at the same time, it’s an opportunity. The team have been really welcoming and really friendly so far, and they’re used to working with young drivers. So I’m very excited to be working with them.

It’s going to start from zero, which is an excellent opportunity to work closely with them, build a strong relationship, and collaborate effectively to get the best out of each other. I think there’s going to be a lot of opportunities next year, because everything will be so new and so different.

You will be the only rookie next year. Is there any driver you would advise going to?

I think it’s not easy in the sense of sports, because we’re all going to be competing against one another. It’s a bit of an awkward relationship of asking for advice, because you also want to beat everyone. But I’d say the one person who’s always been really helpful on that side, and I don’t think will change, has been Max.

I’ve known him now for a few years, and whenever I’ve had a question or wanted some help with something, he’s always been really willing to help out. And it was the same this year. I think I’m lucky enough that I have really good people around me, with the whole of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, the whole team, my internal team as well, that I think there’ll be a lot of people to help me work through the year.

But I’m sure that if there’s anything I’m really struggling with, also because we’re going to be sharing the same engine, which is also an exciting new project working with Ford, if there’s anything that I need, I’m sure I can go to Max for a bit of help.

So what is your personal target for the next year?

I haven’t really thought so much about an outcome goal, of saying I want to finish here or there, because for me, it’s very difficult at this time. It’s almost a bit pointless speculating about it. So all that I’m focused on is working hard with the team over the winter, on the sim, in the factory with the engineers, to also really utilise the three tests, because I’m lucky that there’s going to be more pre-season testing than usual. So really trying to utilise that, to be as ready as I can for the first race in Melbourne, and then we’ll see.

It’s going to be a busy season; it’s a busier life. Will you be finding some time to come back to India?

I’m not sure during the season itself, because as you said, it’s going to be really busy. And I think India is quite a busy place as well.

So, during the season, I’m not sure, but for sure, I’d really like to make an effort once the season is done to come back. And obviously, I’ll also be coming in March for the Red Bull Moto Jam. I’m really looking forward to that. I think it’s going to be a fantastic event.

It’s going to be super exciting for me to be driving an F1 car on the streets of Delhi and to have my first show run as a n F1 driver here in India, given my connection and relationship with the country. So it’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’ve really enjoyed my two visits to India so far, so I’m looking forward to coming back to Delhi in March and, hopefully, coming again later in the year.