Arvid Lindblad is not yet 19 years old, but he is already at the center of discussions about the future of Red Bull in Formula 1. If Max Verstappen leaves the team at the end of the season, the British-Swedish driver emerges as one of the names considered to take his place.
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The possibility gained strength due to Lindblad’s rapid development in the junior categories. The driver became the youngest winner in the history of Formula 3 and Formula 2, won the Formula Regional Oceania title, and received the promotion to Racing Bulls in 2026. The decision was announced by Helmut Marko during the penultimate round of his debut F2 season in Qatar.
“We are not looking for a new Max, we are looking for a new champion, and the next one who really looks promising is Arvid Lindblad,” Marko said when announcing the young driver’s promotion.
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In his first year on the F1 grid, Lindblad has also been delivering consistent results. The only rookie of the 2026 season, he is in 11th place in the championship, with 23 points after 11 GPs, as well as seven top 10 finishes and no retirements. The British-Swedish driver also scored points in six consecutive races, between Monaco and Hungary, with highlights being the seventh places achieved in Monaco and Silverstone.
The promotion to Red Bull, however, would not be a simple decision. A duo formed by Lindblad and Isack Hadjar would place two young drivers without proven experience in charge of the team, while Verstappen’s stay would give the British-Swedish driver more time to continue his development. Even in the event of the four-time champion’s departure, Lindblad’s choice to replace him would not be guaranteed.
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