Verstappen a “true mentor” to young drivers, says Racing Bulls rookie Lindblad

Max Verstappen has been praised for his generous support of younger drivers by Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, who says the world champion remains remarkably approachable despite his success.

“Max has always been really nice. He’s always been very supportive,” Lindblad told GPblog. “Whenever I’ve had any questions or something, he’s always been really friendly, sort of wanting to help, which is really nice.”

The 18-year-old, who’s preparing for his first Formula 1 season, seems genuinely impressed by Verstappen’s willingness to mentor upcoming talent.

“I think it’s cool to see how open and friendly he is. You know, someone so big in the sport could very easily change, especially when you have so much success, and not be so friendly.”

“So it’s really cool that he’s so willing to help and kind,” he added.

Verstappen’s reputation as a mentor to young drivers has been growing in recent years.

Mercedes prospect Kimi Antonelli even dubbed him the “Dad of the rookies” in a recent interview.

Drivers could have bigger impact under 2026 rules

Lindblad also thinks drivers might have more influence on their car’s performance when F1’s new regulations kick in for 2026.

The British teenager believes these rule changes will give drivers more control over their results compared to previous seasons.

He described this potential shift as “exciting” as he looks forward to his debut F1 campaign.

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