Photo: Red Bull
Arvid Lindblad will complete a meteoric rise to Formula 1 when he lines up as a Racing Bulls driver in 2026, a little more than three years after his single-seater debut.
The 18-year-old, part of the Red Bull junior team since his penultimate year in karting in 2022, will be team-mate to Liam Lawson as Isack Hadjar moves to Red Bull Racing to partner Max Verstappen and his current team-mate Yuki Tsunoda becomes the reserve driver for the two squads.
Lindblad is currently a rookie in Formula 2, and sits sixth in the standings with one round remaining. He has won two races and taken two other podiums.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Racing Bulls for the opportunity. Since I started this journey at five years old, it was always my goal to be in F1 so it’s a proud moment to take this step,” said Lindblad.
“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, but 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!”
The 18-year-old Anglo-Swede began his single-seater career with some Italian Formula 4 outings in 2022, then did the whole season in 2023 and came third in the standings. He was fourth in the sister E4 championship, fifth in F4 United Arab Emirates and won the Macau Grand Prix’s F4 support races.
In 2024 he stepped up to Formula Regional, coming 13th in the Middle East championship as a part-timer, then up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship where he won four races en route to fourth in the standings.
At the start of 2025, preceding his F2 graduation, he won the FRegional Oceania championship.
Alan Permane, Team Principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, said:
“Arvid’s rapid progression marks him as one of the standout young talents in the sport,” Racing Bulls’ team principal Alan Permane commented.
“Together [with Lawson], 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 F1.”