In 2021, at the Adria Karting Raceway in Italy, a confident 14-year-old British karting talent, Arvid Lindblad, approached Lando Norris with a memorable statement: “Lando, remember me. I`ll be seeing you in Formula 1 in five years.”
Norris was present at the track for the launch of his karting team when Lindblad, now competing in Formula 2, decided to make his bold prediction.
“It was a spontaneous moment,” Lindblad recounted. “I was with a friend, and we saw Lando. I told my friend, `I`m going to race with him in F1 soon.` My friend doubted me, saying I wouldn`t dare tell him, so I had to prove him wrong!”
“I went right up to Lando, and he was very gracious about it. I said, `It was nice to meet you, see you in five years.` I was inspired by Lewis Hamilton`s story of telling Ron Dennis about his F1 ambitions, and it felt like a similar situation, fueled by my friend`s encouragement.”
“That was at the end of 2021, so I`m hoping for a strong year in F2 and to make it to F1, keeping my word!”
Inspired by Hamilton from a Young Age
Lindblad`s reference to Hamilton echoes back to 1995 when a young Hamilton, just 10 years old, declared his ambition to race for McLaren to team principal Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards.
Growing up watching Formula 1 during Hamilton`s dominant years with Mercedes, Lindblad`s passion for racing ignited early. He first experienced karting at the age of five.
“I vaguely remember Vettel`s wins when I was four or five,” he recalled. “But it was when Lewis started winning, around seven or eight, that I truly began to understand and appreciate the sport.”
“I came into F1 during his era of success. Being British and a person of color, I felt a connection. His rookie F1 season in 2007 coincided with my birth year, creating a personal affiliation.”
Born in Surrey, with a Swedish father and an Indian mother, Lindblad has always competed under the British flag, demonstrating exceptional talent from a young age.
Oliver Rowland, a leading Formula E driver, recognized Lindblad`s potential early on, describing the young racer as `special`.
“I first encountered Arvid in 2016. Zip Kart, my former karting team that played a crucial role in my career, contacted me,” Rowland explained.
“They told me about a promising young kid with great potential. He was only seven at the time. They asked if I`d be interested in coaching him. I was busy, but I agreed to take a look.”
“On his first day at Whilton Mill karting venue, I watched him race as a seven-year-old and was immediately impressed.”
“His maturity for his age stood out. He was incredibly inquisitive about racing techniques, eager to learn how to go faster. It was clear that racing was his sole focus, which was remarkable for someone so young.”
Rapid Rise in Karting
Rowland established Oliver Rowland Motorsport, a karting team specifically for Lindblad, as Lindblad and his family sought a change from their existing karting setup.
Lindblad`s career accelerated, winning the British Championship and quickly progressing to international karting, competing for titles against older drivers.
“From the start, my goal was always Formula 1 and to become a world champion,” he stated.
“At seven or eight, I was often the youngest competitor, racing in the 8-13 age category. There were times when I was surprisingly quick, matching the pace of the top drivers.”
“That gave me confidence. By nine or ten, I was contending for and then won the British Championship.”
“Moving to European competitions, I performed well. There wasn`t a specific moment where I realized I was `good enough,` I just kept pushing forward.”
“My focus was always on winning and continuous improvement. My dad emphasized focusing on my personal development, ensuring I had driver coaches and resources to help me improve constantly. The question was always, `How can I be better?`”
“I embraced each step, concentrating on performing to the best of my ability at every level.”
Becoming Part of Red Bull`s Junior Program
As is increasingly common, successful karting drivers transition to Formula 4 as soon as they reach the minimum age of 15.
Lindblad followed this path, already with Red Bull`s support, having joined their junior program at 13 in late 2020.
“I wasn`t fully aware of all the details of the Red Bull deal at the time, being only 13. My focus was on results and performance, which is paramount in any sport,” he said.
“I remember discussions between my dad and team members connected to Red Bull, but I didn`t know the specifics.”
“I vividly recall being in a hotel in Portimao with my dad, during testing for a karting World Championship. We were at breakfast when his phone rang.”
“The number was displayed as `Graz, Austria.` I didn`t think much of it initially, wondering who it could be, as I wasn`t aware of any ongoing discussions.”
“I noticed something was up when he answered and walked away with a spring in his step.”
“He returned and told me Dr. Marko wanted to meet us to discuss me joining the Red Bull program. I was ecstatic.”
“We met him on the Sunday morning of the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix. He offered me a place in the program, and that`s how it began.”
Ascending the Single-Seater Ladder
Lindblad exceeded expectations in his first full Italian F4 season in 2023, finishing third.
He capped off the year by winning the Macau F4 World Cup race and progressed to Formula 3 in 2024. Despite not winning the championship, his raw speed and rapid adaptation to faster cars impressed many.
At Silverstone, he achieved a double victory, including a remarkable performance in mixed weather conditions, recovering from a position at the back of the field.
His championship challenge faded later in the season, partly due to bad luck, as he didn`t score points in the final six races.
Nevertheless, Lindblad`s potential earned him a promotion to Formula 2 with Campos for the current season. In his debut race in Australia, he qualified 14th and finished 10th in the sprint race, as the feature race was cancelled due to heavy rain.
“I`m pleased with my progress. This year will be a significant challenge, a big step up from F3. I need to maximize every opportunity to learn and improve,” he acknowledged.
“For the initial races, I`m focusing on self-improvement and learning, building on the tests. My goal is to compete for wins, podiums, and pole positions, aiming to get up to speed as quickly as possible, hopefully sooner rather than later.”
Lindblad`s Formula 1 Timeline
Lindblad already holds a Super Licence, qualifying him to drive in F1, after winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship earlier this year.
Red Bull views Lindblad as a potential future star and has a history of quickly promoting drivers to Formula 1.
With Liam Lawson`s unexpected demotion and Yuki Tsunoda`s current opportunity, the 2026 Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen is uncertain, especially if Tsunoda underperforms.
Despite Verstappen`s contract until 2028, speculations about his future persist, and Liam Lawson`s situation highlights the intense competition for seats.
Opportunities could arise for Lindblad as early as next year if he excels in Formula 2.
“Verstappen has hinted at not wanting to race for too long, reaching a point where he`ll decide when to stop. No one will be taking his seat,” Lindblad commented on potentially racing with Verstappen.
“I`m concentrating on my own journey. I aim for a successful F2 season and hope to be in Formula 1 in 2026, then we`ll see what unfolds.”
“It`s a unique situation. You strive for so long to reach F1, and being there is a different reality. I`m not even considering that deeply yet.”
“I`m still a long way from F1. I have much to prove and improve. We`ll see what happens.”
“Teaming up with him one day would be incredible, but if not, it`s fine. It`s not a concern. My ambition is to become a Formula 1 world champion.”
New regulations in 2025 will require teams to use young drivers in at least four first practice sessions, doubling the previous requirement.
Red Bull is likely to use Lindblad in some of these sessions, although he must wait until he turns 18 in late August due to Super Licence age restrictions, unless the FIA grants an exemption.
Can Lindblad Become an F1 Champion?
It`s early to predict, but Lindblad`s mentor, Rowland, is optimistic about Britain`s next motorsport star.
“I rate Arvid extremely highly. Among the F1 rookies this year, maybe one or two will be immediately competitive. I expect the same from Arvid when he gets his chance,” Rowland stated.
“He possesses everything needed at 17, and more, to have the potential to become an F1 world champion.”
“It`s a long journey, with much to learn and develop. Formula 1 success isn`t solely about the driver, but I firmly believe that Arvid, at this stage, has the potential to become a future world champion.”
