‘Very special’ F1 hopeful ‘truly believes’ he will be on the grid in the 2026 season

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The F1 driver market could throw up some interesting moves for the 2026 season. It seems the paddock is waiting for Max Verstappen to decide on his future.

Despite being contracted to Red Bull until 2028, the four-time champion is being linked with a move away as the team have been dethroned at the top of the pecking order. The Milton Keynes outfit are fourth in the constructors’ championship, with Verstappen scoring all but seven of the team’s points.

Mercedes are pursuing a deal for Verstappen as Toto Wolff looks to lure him to their project for the 2026 F1 regulations. Such a move would certainly create massive movements in the F1 driver market, with Red Bull having the most seats available.

Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda is out of contract in 2025, with the Japanese driver struggling to find any performance in the RB21. Tsunoda’s future is ‘hanging by a thread’ as Red Bull are growing frustrated by his regular Q1 exits and an alarming pace deficit to Verstappen.

Racing Bulls duo Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson are also out of contract in 2025, with Red Bull needing to decide on the pair’s futures. This uncertainty could open the door for one of F1’s young rising talents to get his chance.

Arvid Lindblad ‘truly believes’ he will drive for Racing Bulls in 2026 F1 season

Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad is being tipped for a seat in F1, after the 17-year-old was given a special exemption for an FIA superlicence. He is currently competing in F2, where he became the youngest ever winner in the category this season.

Helmut Marko views Lindblad as Verstappen’s ‘successor’ as the Brit is being backed as the team’s next superstar. He has been put through extensive preparations behind the scenes with numerous TPC tests.

Red Bull are preparing Lindblad for a ‘nightmare’ scenario if Verstappen gets a race ban. He came into the Austrian GP with 11 penalty points, but it has now been reduced to nine, with the next penalty point set to expire in November.

Lindblad was handed his F1 debut during FP1 at the British Grand Prix in Tsunoda’s car. As he gains extra mileage in F1 machinery, journalist Rebecca Clancy says the 17-year-old ‘truly believes’ he will land a seat with Racing Bulls in 2026.

Clancy said via BBC Sport: “Red Bull are very excited about him [Arvid Lindblad]. We are all expecting him to be in the Racing Bulls next season.

“He is a very good driver, very special. Red Bull rate him very highly. He is very assured of his own talent, I mean this in a good way. He truly believes he will get that drive.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents

Arvid Lindblad takes another step closer to F1 with P14 in FP1 at the British Grand Prix

Lindblad enjoyed a decent outing at Silverstone in FP1. The Brit went P14 in the session as fellow home hero Lewis Hamilton set the pace for Ferrari.

The 17-year-old was within half a second of Verstappen in FP1, as the four-time champion desperately struggled in the RB21. Lindblad will certainly take positives from the session as he eyes a seat at Racing Bulls in 2026.

Laurent Mekies says F2 is ‘the goal’ for Lindblad in 2025; winning the title would almost guarantee a place on the F1 grid in 2026. He is currently sat sixth, 35 points behind championship leader Richard Verschoor.

Lindblad wants to make his own name in F1, rather than be known as the ‘next Verstappen’. He is well on the way to doing that, but he is far from the finished product.