Arvid Lindblad earns major fan praise after "standout" Japanese GP qualifying

Arvid Lindblad won praise from fans and hailed his own “mega” effort after reaching Q3 and securing 10th on the grid for the Japanese GP

Formula 1 fans have applauded Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad after an impressive qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Briton managed to get through to Q3, knocking out four-time champion Max Verstappen, and will start the race at the Suzuka circuit from 10th on the grid.

F1 later released onboard footage showing the rookie patting his car and touching his head to the halo after qualifying.

"Arvid Lindblad is quietly stacking up these strong sessions, and it’s starting to feel less like a surprise and more like a pattern," one fan commented, while another added: "Everyone said potential, but Arvid is already performing just two races in."

"He should be really happy. Quali, and in the top 10, and just three races in and he's knocking out a four-time world champion Max Verstappen," someone else wrote, and another added: "Another standout lap from Lindblad, composure, precision, and pure pace. Future star in the making!"

While speaking to the media after the session, the Racing Bulls driver was clearly pleased with his performance, describing his qualifying as "mega".

"Quali felt really good, I mean, it's not been an easy week at all. I missed all of P2, I missed quite a bit of P3 as well with another issue," he said. "I wasn't particularly confident coming into quali just because I was so on the back foot and I knew it wasn't going to be an easy session, but I think the job I did was really mega.

"I think that my guys as well, on my side of the garage, have done an amazing job to give me a car that I had a lot of confidence in with such little mileage.

"I'm very thankful to them, very proud of the job I did because I think we put the car in a position where I'm not sure it belonged."