Who is Arvid Lindblad? Red Bull's 20th Formula 1 driver

As it stands now, Lindblad will be the only rookie on the grid next season as F1 prepares for a reset with fresh engine and aero regulations. The 18-year-old lies P6 in the 2025 Formula 2 Championship, with the Yas Marina finale left to run this weekend.

Of his promotion to Racing Bulls, Lindblad said: “I’d like to thank everyone at VCARB for the opportunity. Since I started this journey at five years old, it was always my goal to be in Formula 1. It’s a proud moment to take this step.

"I’m extremely grateful to the Red Bull Junior Programme and my personal team for their guidance, mentorship and belief; none of this would have been possible without their support. 2026 will be a big challenge and I know there’s a lot to learn.

"I’m ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can’t wait to get started, it’s going to be an exciting year," added Lindblad, who was born and raised in Virginia Water, England, to a Swedish father and a mother of Indian heritage.

On the day of the announcement, Racing Bulls outlined why Lindblad was promoted, noting that “Arvid, becomes the twentieth Red Bull Junior Programme driver to reach F1, steps up after an impressive rise through the ranks. He has demonstrated raw speed, maturity and potential, underscoring the team’s long-standing commitment to developing elite young talent.”

Team principal Alan Permane added: “Arvid’s rapid progression marks him as one of the standout young talents in the sport. Together, they form a strong and dynamic pairing, one that embodies the ambition and youthful spirit of VCARB as we enter a transformative new era for Formula 1.”

Lindblad is a British and Swedish driver identified early as a generational prospect. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2021 at the age of 13, guided closely by former Formula E World Champion Oliver Rowland. His progression has been defined by milestones, including becoming the youngest race winner in both the FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 championships.

He began karting at five years old and rose rapidly. He claimed the British Cadet title in 2018, won the WSK Super Master Series in 2020, and then the WSK Euro Series in 2021. Red Bull signed him shortly after. He closed his karting career with a podium in the CIK-FIA World Cup KZ2 in 2022 before switching to single-seaters.

Lindblad’s first full season came in 2023 with campaigns in F4 UAE and Italian F4. He won his maiden F4 race in the UAE and dominated the Italian series early with six victories, including a triple win at Monza. He finished P3 in the championship, 4th in Euro 4 and signed off the year by winning the Macau F4 World Cup.

His 2024 rookie season in Formula 3 with Prema was one of the strongest the category has seen. He became the youngest winner in the championship’s history with his Bahrain Sprint victory at 16 years old and finished 4th overall with four wins, matching the all-time season record. He also delivered a Silverstone double and ended the year as the Aramco Best Rookie Award winner.

The climb continued in 2025 with Campos in Formula 2. Lindblad became the youngest F2 race winner with his Jeddah Sprint triumph and lies P7 overall with two wins and four podiums. Red Bull granted him a special dispensation Super Licence for an F1 practice outing at the British Grand Prix, accelerating his integration into the top tier.

Lindblad’s arrival gives Racing Bulls one of the youngest lineups on the grid, and his elevation reinforces the scale of Red Bull’s long-term development pipeline. With a new rules cycle beginning and a proven record of adapting instantly at every level, 2026 now becomes the biggest step of his career.