Arvid Lindblad is set to become the youngest driver on the F1 grid next year, making his debut at just 18 years old alongside Liam Lawson in the 2026 season.
The British teenager will take the “youngest on grid” title from Kimi Antonelli, though he won’t break Max Verstappen‘s all-time record. Verstappen remains the only driver ever to debut in F1 as a minor.
Born to a Swedish father and Indian mother in Virginia Water, UK, Lindblad’s racing journey began when he was just five years old on the karting circuit.
His path to F1 hasn’t been straightforward.
Oliver Rowland, the Formula E driver and former F2 competitor, spotted Lindblad’s talent early and provided crucial support. This eventually helped him secure a Red Bull Junior Team contract in 2021, just before he made the jump to single-seaters.
His first season in Italian F4 was pretty rough. Driving for Van Amersfoort Racing, he finished a disappointing 17th overall with just 12 points all season.
But everything changed when he switched to Prema the following year.
Lindblad found his rhythm in 2023, scoring six wins, four poles and ten podiums to finish third overall in Italian F4. He also placed fifth in the F4 UAE Championship that same year.
The young driver made his mark in Euroformula Open too, finishing fourth overall after competing in just nine races. The highlight came when he won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix with Prema – a victory that turned heads throughout the racing world.
His 2024 season saw him compete in FRECA (Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine) where he finished 13th, before stepping up to Formula 3 with Prema and claiming fourth in the standings.
F2 proved to be a roller-coaster ride for Lindblad. He showed flashes of brilliant speed but also made some costly mistakes that raised eyebrows among team bosses. Despite the ups and downs, he managed to finish sixth overall.
The past year has been huge for raising his profile. Beyond his F2 campaign, Lindblad got his first taste of F1 machinery during several practice sessions with Red Bull. He filled in for Max Verstappen at both Silverstone and Mexico City, and later replaced Yuki Tsunoda during the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
At 18, he’ll be one of the youngest drivers ever to compete at motorsport’s highest level. Will his rapid rise through the junior ranks translate to success against the sport’s elite?
