‘Impressive’ driver who’s beating Arvid Lindblad could now become F1’s next rookie for 2026

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Red Bull junior talent Arvid Lindblad is being backed as the next rising star in motorsport. He is being heavily linked with an F1 seat in the near future.

Lindblad was granted an FIA superlicence after Red Bull applied for special exemption. The 17-year-old can now act as the team’s reserve driver alongside his F2 duties.

The Brit is currently third in the standings with two wins, becoming the youngest ever race winner in F2. Lindblad is seriously making an impression in the lower divisions, and it has got Red Bull considering him for a future seat.

Helmut Marko views Lindblad as Max Verstappen’s ‘successor’ as he prepares him for a potential step up to F1. Lindblad has displayed a ‘perfect’ attitude during private testing for Red Bull, putting him in a good position for a promotion in 2026.

Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson are out of contract in 2025, as is Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull. There is even a chance that the 17-year-old could make his debut this season, as Marko admitted Red Bull are ‘preparing’ Lindblad in case Verstappen receives a race ban.

Racing Bulls are set to give Lindblad FP1 appearances in the second half of 2025, which could put him in the shop window for a 2026 seat. But at the Austrian Grand Prix, the attention has turned to another F2 talent.

Alex Dunne could be F1’s next rookie in 2026 as McLaren are set to change his F2 programme

Alex Dunne replaced Lando Norris in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring, making his debut on an F1 weekend. The Irishman is beating Lindblad in F2 as he leads the championship by three points over Richard Verschoor.

F1 fans were left astonished by Dunne’s performance, as he finished FP1 in an incredible fourth place, coming just 69 thousandths of a second behind Oscar Piastri. His display caught the attention of the paddock and McLaren, with Andrea Stella labelling him ‘impressive’ via Sky Sports F1.

Discussing Dunne’s FP1 outing via The Race, journalist Josh Suttill says the 19-year-old is now set to have just one year in F2 rather than the two-year programme that was planned. Viewing him as an ‘even bigger talent’ than Gabriel Bortoleto, McLaren may not be willing to let him leave.

“It was supposed to be a two-year programme. I think, pretty much, it’s going to be a one-year now. If he wins the title, obviously he can’t come back,” said Suttill.

“Even if he doesn’t win the title, I’m pretty sure it’s [a] mere one-year, you can’t learn much more in Formula 2.

“I think it’s slightly different to Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto was a big talent, I think Dunne’s an even bigger talent in McLaren eyes and in the eyes of people watching him.

“So I don’t think they’re going to want to let go of him. People can say: ‘Oh it’s a bad problem to have because you’ve got these two drivers signed up.’ I think it’s a pretty good problem to have to have this driver on your books as well.”

READ MORE: Who is McLaren junior driver Alex Dunne? Everything you need to know

Alex Dunne’s next natural step is F1 – but is there a seat for him in 2026?

McLaren seem set on not wanting to repeat their situation with Bortoleto with Dunne. The team did not have a seat available for the Brazilian in 2025 after he won the F2 title and subsequently let him leave to join Sauber.

The Woking outfit want to keep hold of Dunne, but he finds himself in the same position as Bortoleto. Norris and Piastri have long-term contracts, meaning that unless one of them leaves McLaren, which is highly unlikely at this stage, the Irishman will not be racing in papaya.

If Dunne is only staying in F2 for one year, the natural step would be F1, but his options are limited. The 19-year-old probably will not be in the conversation for a seat at Mercedes or Red Bull.

Karun Chandhok says McLaren should loan Dunne to Cadillac, with the American brand yet to decide on their driver line-up for 2026. If McLaren are serious about the Irishman’s talent, they need to get him a seat for next season; winning the F2 title will put him at least under consideration for Cadillac.