Arvid Lindblad reveals F1 dream still feels surreal after impressive rookie start

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad has said that it has still not sunk in that he is racing in Formula 1.

The 18-year-old driver secured a full-time F1 seat with Red Bull's sister squad after just one season in Formula 2, finishing sixth in the standings on 134 points with three race wins. 

Lindblad started competitive karting in 2015 before moving up to Formula 4 in 2022. After two seasons, the first with Van Amersfoort Racing and the second with Hitech Grand Prix, the Briton moved to Formula 3 with Prema Racing in 2024.

"I don't think it's fully sunk in," he explained during an interview with BBC Newsbeat. "This is something I've been working towards my whole life. So the fact it's come true is extremely special, extremely cool."

The young driver visited Delhi ahead of the season start. While he races under the British flag, his mother is British Indian. This background makes the idea of racing in India a "really cool" proposition. 

"I race under the British flag so having one home race is pretty cool, if there were to be a second one that'd be really special as well," he added. "I don't know the ins and outs of it, or how realistic it is, but it would mean a lot to me."

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

The Racing Bulls driver has already impressed in the opening four rounds of his debut F1 season.

After lining up ninth for the Australian Grand Prix, he finished eighth, scoring four points on his debut. Although he failed to pick up points at the Chinese, Japanese, and Miami Grands Prix, he currently sits 12th in the drivers' standings behind his team-mate Liam Lawson in 10th.

After the 2026 season resumed in Florida following a five-week break due to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix, fans are now faced with another wait until the Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place on 24 May.