Red Bull Racing’s newest star Arvid Lindblad has clinched the Formula Regional Oceania championship, despite not winning a single race in his final weekend Down Under.
It was the first time the 17-year-old Brit failed to grab a win during a race weekend, but he didn’t need to – a podium finish in the first race at Highlands Motorsport Park was enough to secure the title.
The championship victory means much more than just a trophy for Lindblad. He’s now earned the crucial 18 super licence points he came to New Zealand for.
That’s where things get interesting.
Technically, Lindblad can’t drive an F1 car until after his 18th birthday in August. But Red Bull’s got other plans.
The team is expected to take advantage of a new 2024 rule change that could put their young talent behind the wheel even sooner. They’ll need special permission from the FIA due to his age, but most insiders think that won’t be a problem.
What’s at stake? With a super licence in hand, Lindblad wouldn’t just be limited to practice sessions – he could serve as a full test and reserve driver for the team.
The final weekend saw him battle it out with Will Brown and Zack Scoular in the New Zealand Grand Prix. While he didn’t dominate like in previous rounds, his consistent performance throughout the season had already done the heavy lifting.
For Red Bull, it’s another success story in their renowned young driver program. For Lindblad, it’s potentially the final stepping stone before joining the elite ranks of Formula 1.
