Arvid Lindblad

While much of the motorsport world was still in its off-season slumber, Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad was making headlines on the other side of the globe. The 17-year-old Brit—who also holds Swedish and Indian heritage—has taken a major step toward his Formula 1 dream by securing an FIA superlicence after a dominant run in New Zealand’s Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

Red Bull’s Next Big Bet

Lindblad’s success couldn’t come at a better time. With Red Bull reshaping its driver lineup—Ricciardo and Perez out, Lawson and Hadjar promoted—there’s renewed emphasis on grooming the next wave of talent. Lindblad, already familiar to the F1 world through a 2024 Red Bull demo run in Houston, now finds himself in prime position to benefit from an important 2025 regulation change: teams will be required to run rookie drivers in at least four Free Practice 1 sessions. He’s a top candidate to take on those outings for both the main Red Bull squad and RB.

Crucially, Lindblad’s path looks even clearer with Honda set to leave Red Bull at the end of 2025. Yuki Tsunoda, closely tied to Honda, may be nearing the end of his tenure at the team. Red Bull will want a fresh, homegrown option ready—and Lindblad is rapidly becoming that option.

As the sport braces for a new era in 2026, with revamped technical regulations, sustainable fuels, and new manufacturers like Audi and Cadillac entering the frame, Lindblad’s trajectory is perfectly timed. If his development continues at the current pace, it won’t be long before we see him take the next step—from Red Bull prospect to Formula 1 driver.

A Dominant Display Down Under

Racing for Prema, Lindblad entered the series with one goal: to collect enough points for a superlicence, which would make him eligible for an F1 debut once he turns 18 in August. He did more than just meet expectations. With six wins, six pole positions, and four feature race victories out of five, he clinched the title with two rounds to spare. His performance drew comparisons to former Oceania champions like Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, and Lance Stroll—drivers who used the same series as a launchpad to international success.

The field in 2024-25 was highly competitive, featuring standout names like American rising star Nikita Johnson and Australian Supercars champion Will Brown. Yet it was Lindblad who consistently delivered under pressure, earning praise from Toyota’s series boss Nicolas Caillol, who called him

“one of the finest we’ve seen in New Zealand over the seasons.”