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Lindblad in the frame for Red Bull reserve role
Arvid Lindblad is in the frame to be a Red Bull and RB reserve driver after securing his FIA Super License by winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
The 17-year-old British-Swedish driver has been rising quickly through the ranks and claimed four victories in his maiden Formula 3 season last year, finishing fourth in the drivers’ standings. Added to his third-placed finish in the 2023 Italian Formula 4 championship, Lindblad was racing in New Zealand to try and secure the final points required for his Super License, and duly did so by securing the title with two races to spare.
“What an incredible ride,” Lindblad said of his first single-seater title. “Proud to be crowned FR Oceania Champion. A huge shout-out to my team and everyone who’s been part of this journey. What an amazing few weeks in New Zealand – such a stunning place.”
Lindblad, who has impressed Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with his trajectory so far, is set to step up to Formula 2 in 2025 with Campos Racing, the same team that ran RB rookie Isack Hadjar last season. Although Lindblad doesn’t turn 18 until August, recent changes to the FIA Super License requirements permit 17 year olds to be granted the ability to race in F1 “in exceptional circumstances”.
Red Bull has yet to confirm its reserve driver plans after promoting Liam Lawson in place of Sergio Perez over the winter, with Hadjar taking Lawson’s place alongside Yuki Tsunoda at RB. Both Lawson and Hadjar had served as reserve drivers last season.
While Lindblad took the FR Oceania title, the top American driver was Nikita Johnson who finished third overall with one victory and five further podiums from the 15 races. The 16-year-old is set to combine his first full season in the GB3 Championship this year with four Indy NXT races for HMD Motorsports.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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