Arvid Lindblad is a rookie F3 driver who has created a storm with his recent home sprint win at Silverstone. Lindblad is a junior Red Bull academy driver, driving for the famous Prema Racing team that is renowned for developing some of the best up-and-coming drivers.
Early Step into Racing for Arvid Lindblad
The 16-year-old Lindblad first stepped into a go-kart at age 5 and then fell in love with it, to eventually make it his passion. His goal is to follow in the footsteps of other famous British world champions such as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton and become a part of the history books.
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“I’d say I have two or three years now to make it and that’s my window – if I don’t make it now I won’t get another opportunity in Formula 1,” he told Game Changers for BBC Local Radio.
He added how he owes his success to the support of his parents ever since he stepped on the track where Lewis Hamilton once raced. However, one of his biggest supporters was Formula E’s Oliver Rowland who met Lindblad, when he was a development driver at Williams in the 2018 F1 season.
Lindblad races under the British flag, however, he comes from an Indian and Swedish background. Additionally, he joined the Red Bull Academy ahead of the 2022 season becoming a full-time member.
Back-to-back successes for Arvid Lindblad
Despite going directly to F3 from F4 this year, skipping Formula Regional, he is on a power charge. Currently, he stands at P2 in the standings with four race wins, including a sprint and feature race double on his home turf, Silverstone. Moreover, he is only 6 points behind the experienced Alpine academy driver Gabriele Mini, leading to a constant edge-of-the-seat race result.
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He talks about his dream to reach Formula 1 and how close it is. He said to BBC Sounds:
“From an early age it’s been all about Formula 1 – I’ve almost seen all other routes as a bit of a step-down. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and I haven’t seen anything else that I’ve been attracted to.”
However, it was not always easy for him, sacrificing most of his social life to pursue his dream impacted his relationships with his peers.
“In the beginning I was maybe the weird kid that wasn’t there that much, even sometimes missing some Fridays [travelling to races], so it was maybe quite hard for my peers to understand,”
However, eventually, his school peers started to acknowledge his talents and even sent him messages of encouragement and watching his races to show their support for their friends.
Helmut Marko’s call to Lindblad
One of the most defining moments in his early career was in 2020 at 13 years of age.
He recalled:
“I remember very vividly I was in the hotel having breakfast with my dad two weeks before the World Championship and his phone rang and it was [Red Bull team director] Dr [Helmut] Marko asking to have a sit-down,”
Dr Marko told him how he wished him to join the Red Bull Junior Programme, but it was far more than just an invitation. Marko provides continuous support and advice before Lindblad’s race sessions.
⛔️ “I can’t name any names, but there are drivers in the field who are stagnating… They are blocking the way for the young drivers. The teams are also afraid of juniors.”
— F1 Oversteer (@F1Oversteer) July 16, 2024
– Helmut Marko to Speedweek pic.twitter.com/UTBFfrHtBx
Dr Marko recently wrote on Speedweek:
“Arvid Lindblad shone in Formula 3, having moved up directly from Formula 4 to Formula 3 as a rookie and winning both races… He is only 16 years old and we are delighted that you can now drive Formula 1 again at 17.”
It is safe to say Lindblad is a force to be reckoned with at only 16, and might truly eventually achieve his dreams and reach the pinnacle of motorsports sooner than one thinks.
Rohit Kumar