Red Bull junior Lindblad has Super License request approved at 17

Red Bull's request for a Super License for its junior driver Arvid Lindblad has been approved, opening the door for him to race in Formula 1 prior to his 18th birthday.

Lindblad has been a rising start of the Red Bull program and finished fourth in last year’s Formula 3 championship despite starting the season at just 16 years old. He then took the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in February of this year, earning him enough points for a Super License once he turned 18.


After a strong start to his debut Formula 2 campaign that saw Lindblad become the series’ youngest ever winner, he currently sits third in the drivers’ championship and is just eight points off the lead.

Last year, the FIA stated it would consider individual exceptions to the minimum age of 18 years old to hold a Super License, and after Red Bull requested Lindblad be granted one ahead of his birthday on August 8, it has approved the application.

“The FIA has received a request to grant a Super License to Arvid Lindblad prior to his 18th birthday,” a statement from the governing body read.


“After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request.”

Lindblad can now take part in FP1 sessions and race in a grand prix should Red Bull want to call upon him for either its senior team or Racing Bulls. The timing is significant as Max Verstappen is currently one penalty point away from an automatic one-race suspension, following his collision with George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix.


Should Verstappen trigger a ban over the next two events, it is expected that either Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson would be promoted from Racing Bulls, with Lindblad now an option to fill in for whoever stepped up. Another option available to the team is reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa, who has made multiple FP1 appearances.