Arvid Lindblad explains why he doesn’t want to be ‘the next Max Verstappen’ ahead of British Grand Prix debut

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Arvid Lindblad will take part in an official Formula 1 session for the first time at the British Grand Prix this weekend. It’s a first glimpse at the next talent off the Red Bull production line.

Under the rules, every F1 team is required to field a rookie – classified as a driver with fewer than three starts – in four sessions across the year. Red Bull have already given Ayumu Iwasa a run in Bahrain.

Lindblad is only 17 years old but has received an exemption from the FIA to make his debut before his 18th birthday. He sits sixth in the Formula 2 standings.

Lindblad recently tested at Imola to prepare for his Silverstone outing. His path to F1 next year is clear.

Red Bull are expected to release Yuki Tsunoda at the end of the season and promote Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls. That will open up a vacancy at the sister team alongside Liam Lawson.

Arvid Lindblad says he wants to make his own name in Formula 1

A recent report claims that Helmut Marko views Lindblad as the ‘successor’ to Max Verstappen. He may not replace him directly, but he will carry the hopes of Red Bull whenever the Dutchman moves on.

And that moment could come sooner than expected. Verstappen has said yes to joining Mercedes, though the move may not take place for 18 months.

Speaking to The Times, Lindblad explained why he doesn’t want the ‘next Max Verstappen‘ label. He wants to forge his own name in the sport outside the shadow of the 65-time race-winner.

“It’s obviously very cool to be associated with a four-time world champion,” he said. “But on the other hand, I want to be the first Arvid Lindblad, not the next Max Verstappen.”

Lindblad won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship over the winter, and finished fourth in Formula 3 last year. Verstappen made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2015, and Marko has placed his next project on a similar timeline.

The F2 rival who could join Arvid Lindblad on the 2026 F1 grid

Comparisons between Lindblad and Kimi Antonelli are inevitable. Both have been talked up as generational talents, having come through the academies of two F1 giants.

Fittingly, Antonelli also finished sixth in F2 last year. He’s jumped straight into Mercedes, whereas Lindblad would start in the midfield.

Four places further up the standings, Alex Dunne made an outstanding FP1 debut for McLaren in Austria. Clearly, the seats at Woking are already full.

But McLaren could potentially hold talks with Cadillac, F1’s newest team, over a loan arrangement for one of the series’ brightest prospects. Lindblad and Dunne look the most likely to graduate.