In 2021, a confident 14-year-old karting prodigy, Arvid Lindblad, approached Lando Norris at the Adria Karting Raceway in Italy with a memorable declaration: “Lando, remember me, I will see you in five years.”
Norris was present at the track to launch his karting team when Lindblad, now competing in Formula 2, decided to make his bold prediction.
“It was a spontaneous moment. I was chatting with a friend when we spotted Lando,” Lindblad recounted.
“I told my friend, ‘I’ll be racing with him in F1 soon,’ and he doubted my courage to say it to Norris directly. I wanted to prove him wrong!”
“So, I went straight to Lando, and he was very receptive. I said, ‘It was nice to meet you, see you in five years.’ I was inspired by Lewis Hamilton`s similar declaration to Ron Dennis [about joining McLaren], and it felt like a similar situation, fueled by my friend`s encouragement!”
“That was at the end of 2021, so I’m hoping for a strong year in F2 and to make it to F1, keeping my promise!”
Inspired by Hamilton`s Journey
Lindblad`s reference to Hamilton echoes back to 1995 when a young Hamilton, just 10 years old, told McLaren team principal Dennis at the Autosport Awards of his F1 aspirations.
Growing up watching F1 during Hamilton`s dominant era with Mercedes, Lindblad`s passion for racing ignited early. He first experienced karting at the age of five.
“I have faint memories of Vettel`s championships when I was four or five,” he shared.
“But it was when Lewis started winning, around seven or eight, that I began to truly understand Formula 1.
“I entered the sport during his success, and as a fellow Briton and a person of color, I felt a connection. His rookie F1 season in 2007 coincided with my birth year, creating a sense of affiliation.”
Born in Surrey, Lindblad has Swedish and Indian heritage. Representing Britain in racing, his talent was evident from a young age.
Oliver Rowland, a current Formula E leader, recognized Lindblad`s potential, describing the young driver as `special`.
“I first encountered Arvid in 2016. Zip Kart, my former karting team that played a vital role in my career, contacted me,” Rowland explained.
“They told me about a promising young kid with great potential and asked if I’d be interested in coaching him. I was busy, but I agreed to take a look.”
“On his first day at Whilton Mill karting venue, I watched him, and even at seven years old, he was remarkably impressive.”
“His maturity for his age stood out most. He was incredibly inquisitive about racing, eager to learn how to go faster. Racing was clearly his sole focus, which was unusual for someone so young.”
Rapid Rise in Karting
Rowland established Oliver Rowland Motorsport, a karting team specifically for Lindblad, as Lindblad and his family sought a change from their current setup.
Lindblad secured the British Championship and quickly advanced to international karting, competing for titles against older rivals.
“From the start, my goal was always Formula 1 and becoming a world champion,” he stated.
“At seven or eight, I was consistently the youngest competitor, often racing in the 8-13 age group. There were times when I matched the pace of the top drivers.”
“That gave me confidence. By nine or ten, I was contending for and then won the British Championship.”
“Moving to European competitions, I performed well. There wasn`t a single moment of realization about being ‘good enough.’ I just kept pushing forward.”
“Everything I did was driven by the desire to win and improve. My father emphasized focusing on my development, ensuring I had driver coaches to aid my progress. The question was always, ‘How can I be better?’”
“I embraced each step, concentrating on performing to the best of my ability.”
Joining the Red Bull Junior Program
As is increasingly common, karting standouts transition to Formula 4 at 15, the minimum age for those cars.
Lindblad followed this path, already supported by Red Bull, who signed him at 13 in late 2020.
“Being 13 at the time, I wasn`t fully aware of all the details. I was focused on results, which are paramount in any sport,” he said.
“I recall communication between my father and individuals linked to Red Bull, but not the specifics.”
“I vividly remember being in a hotel in Portimao with my dad, during karting World Championship testing. We were at breakfast when his phone rang.”
“The caller ID showed ‘Graz, Austria.’ I didn’t think much of it initially. I wondered who it could be, as I wasn`t aware of any ongoing discussions.”
“I knew something was happening when he answered and walked away with a spring in his step.”
“He returned and told me Dr. Marko wanted to meet to discuss me joining the Red Bull program. I was ecstatic.”
“We met him on Sunday morning of the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix, where he invited me to join the program. That’s how it started.”
Ascending the Single-Seater Ladder
Lindblad finished third in his first full Italian F4 season in 2023, exceeding expectations. He then won the Macau F4 World Cup race and advanced to F3 in 2024. Despite not winning the championship, his speed and adaptability impressed many.
At Silverstone, he achieved two victories, including a remarkable wet-weather performance where he recovered from a poor starting position.
His championship hopes faded later in the season, partly due to bad luck. However, Lindblad`s potential was clear, earning him a promotion to F2 with Campos for this season. In his F2 debut in Australia, he qualified 14th and finished 10th in the Sprint Race, as the Feature Race was cancelled.
“I’m pleased with my progress. This year will be challenging, as F2 is a significant step up from F3. I need to maximize every opportunity to learn and improve,” he said.
“Initially, I’ll focus on learning and developing, building on the pre-season tests. My goal is to contend for wins, podiums, and pole positions as soon as possible.”
Lindblad`s F1 Timeline?
Lindblad already holds a Super Licence, qualifying him for F1, after winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship earlier this year.
Red Bull sees Lindblad as a potential future star and has a history of quickly promoting drivers to F1.
With recent driver changes within Red Bull`s teams, questions arise about Verstappen`s teammate in 2026, especially if current drivers underperform.
Despite Verstappen`s contract until 2028, speculation about his future persists, and the driver lineup remains dynamic.
Opportunities in F1 could open up for Lindblad as early as next year if he excels in Formula 2.
“Verstappen has indicated he doesn`t intend to race for too long. He’s at a level where he’ll decide when to stop. No one will displace him,” Lindblad commented on the possibility of racing with Verstappen.
“I’m focused on my own journey and having a successful F2 season. Hopefully, I’ll be in Formula 1 in 2026, and we’ll see what happens.”
“It’s a unique situation to strive so hard to reach F1, and then it’s a different challenge once you’re there. I’m not even thinking about that yet.”
“I’m still far from F1. There’s much I need to prove and improve. We’ll see what unfolds.”
“Being his teammate someday would be incredible, but if not, that’s fine. It’s not a concern. My aim is to become a Formula 1 world champion.”
New regulations in 2025 will mandate young drivers to participate in at least four first practice sessions per team, double the previous requirement.
Red Bull might use Lindblad in these sessions, though he must turn 18 in August to fully comply with Super Licence regulations, unless the FIA grants an exemption.
Can Lindblad Become an F1 Champion?
While it`s early to predict, Lindblad`s mentor, Rowland, is optimistic about Britain`s emerging motorsport talent.
“I rate Arvid extremely highly. Among the rookies in F1 this year, only a few will be immediately competitive. I expect the same from Arvid when he gets the call-up,” Rowland stated.
“At 17, he possesses everything necessary, and more, to potentially become an F1 world champion.”
“It’s a long road ahead with much to learn and develop. Formula 1 is complex, but I firmly believe that, currently, he has the potential to be a future world champion.”
Marcus Prine