Arvid Lindblad, a standout in Formula 2, completed 300 km behind the wheel of the AT04 yesterday. With an FIA waiver in hand, he aims to make his debut in FP1 at Silverstone or Budapest—potentially becoming the youngest driver on track since Verstappen.
Yesterday, Arvid Lindblad and Ayumu Iwasa took to the track at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola, driving the 2023 AlphaTauri AT04 featuring the special livery used at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Born in 2007, Lindblad was born in England to an Indian mother and Swedish father and will turn 18 on August 8. A member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2021, when he was still karting, the young Anglo-Swedish talent received a special exemption on June 10 to obtain his Formula 1 super license before reaching adulthood—an exceptionally rare event in modern Formula 1.
Lindblad participated in the morning session of the TPC test (Testing Previous Cars, an FIA-approved program allowing the use of cars at least two seasons old) before handing over to Iwasa in the afternoon. The young driver completed around 300 km—the equivalent of a full race—focusing on flying lap simulations, consistency, and start practice. According to Motorsport.com, Racing Bulls expressed great satisfaction with his performance, highlighting clear progress throughout the morning.
Despite a few minor imperfections, the 17-year-old—currently competing with Campos Racing in Formula 2—is equally pleased with his performance. This marks his second time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, following a filming day last February, also at Imola and in the same car.
Also in February, Lindblad clinched the New Zealand championship title, earning the points needed for a super license—at least on paper. Recognizing his talent and long-term potential, the FIA granted him an exemption to participate in Formula 1 free practice sessions before turning 18.
The Imola tests were designed as a preparatory step for a possible debut in official FP1 sessions later this season, either with Racing Bulls or even Red Bull. While nothing is confirmed, speculation is growing around a potential appearance at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone—his home race—scheduled for two weeks from now. In any case, Lindblad has until the Hungarian GP (August 1-3) to make history as the youngest driver in Formula 1 since Max Verstappen.
The last driver to receive a similar waiver was Kimi Antonelli last year. Although he had already turned 18, the young Italian was missing another essential requirement: a driving license, which he only obtained last January. Just as Toto Wolff did with Antonelli, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner places great trust in Lindblad, describing him as “a very promising young talent.”
In his Formula 2 debut season, Lindblad currently sits third in the standings. He started the year brilliantly, securing two wins and a second place, becoming the youngest race winner in the category’s history at Jeddah and the second youngest pole sitter ever in Barcelona. Talents like his don’t come around every year; if Lindblad continues to impress, we could see him make his Formula 1 debut as early as 2026 with Racing Bulls.
Photo: Formula 1.com, Motorsport.com