Arvid Lindblad is the only rookie on the Formula 1 grid in 2026, after Red Bull opted to put him into their sister team, Racing Bulls.
The 18-year-old will replace Isack Hadjar in 2026, with the Frenchman stepping up to the main team alongside Max Verstappen. Lindblad is highly rated at Red Bull as a driver for the future, but his debut season could be tricky.
The Brit joins the grid in the wake of a regulation change, perhaps the most extensive and revolutionary in F1 history. Adapting to F1 and his new team is one thing, but Lindblad will have to get accustomed to an entirely new car and power unit.
Where will Arvid Lindblad rank among Formula 1’s recent rookies?
Red Bull will supply their own engines for the first time in 2026, with their drivers getting mileage and data for the team in testing. Fernando Alonso has hinted that Lindblad may struggle with the regulation changes as a rookie.
Therefore, the teenager must get as much experience and knowledge as he can, and his first reference in 2026 is, naturally, his teammate, Liam Lawson.

Arvid Lindblad must ‘learn’ from Liam Lawson in 2026, says Jenson Button
2009 F1 champion Jenson Button offered his advice to Lindblad on Sky Sports ahead of his rookie season. He told the Brit to learn from Lawson at Racing Bulls and also utilise Verstappen’s data at Red Bull.
“Learn from your teammate, learn from the other drivers in the team. Obviously, he has Max Verstappen’s data, I’m sure, to look at as well, even though he’s not in the same team, it’s the sister team.
“So, it’s just learn as much as you can. Spend as much time with the team as you can, really get a good understanding of how this car works.
“And it’s that rapport with your engineer that’s key as well. It’s having an understanding when you come on the radio and say something that he understands it in the right way, not the wrong way, because there’s a lot of aggression on the radio sometimes, a bit of anger.
“That’s a big thing. It’s a big learning curve, F1. And it’s not the driving, he knows how to drive a racing car. It’s the pressure that you have on your shoulders from the outside world that really does make or break you.”
READ MORE: Who is 2026 Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad? Everything you need to know

Arvid Lindblad could put Liam Lawson under serious pressure at Racing Bulls in 2026
Being the experienced driver at Racing Bulls could work to Lawson’s benefit, but Lindblad is sure to give the New Zealander a hard time.
Martin Brundle has heard impressive things from Lindblad ahead of his F1 debut, and he seems to be already putting them into practice.
Lindblad was faster than Lawson at the Barcelona shakedown, showing his teammate that he is immediately under pressure.
Helmut Marko has backed Lindblad to succeed under the new regulations. He is sure to give Lawson tough competition at Racing Bulls, and if he is beaten, it could mark the end of his F1 career.
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