What Red Bull are now doing with Arvid Lindblad to ‘get him ready’ for racing in Formula 1 next year

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It appears as though Red Bull Racing are preparing for yet another graduate from their junior team to reach Formula 1.

Nearly half of the current Formula 1 grid have been associated with Red Bull at one point in their careers.

Max Verstappen has been their most successful graduate after beating Toto Wolff to his signature as a junior, with the Dutchman and Sebastian Vettel both sitting on four drivers’ championships.

However, the likes of Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz can all trace their F1 lineage back to the Anglo-Austrian team, with Albon linked with a potential Red Bull return as recently as this season.

Arvid Lindblad appears to be the latest driver from their academy who is being readied to make his Formula 1 bow.

Lindblad made his FP1 debut at Silverstone, and appeared to be on a very similar pace to Yuki Tsunoda.

Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson will also be on high alert, with the teenager’s preparations behind the scenes being ramped up the longer the campaign goes on.

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

Red Bull ‘throwing a lot’ at Arvid Lindblad ahead of a potential 2026 Formula 1 debut

Journalist and commentator Nelson Valkenburg was speaking on the Nailing The Apex Podcast about Red Bull’s driver predicament.

Valkenburg thinks Tsunoda’s days at Red Bull are numbered, and with Hadjar set to be Red Bull’s favoured Tsunoda replacement, that would open up a seat for Lindblad.

He explained: “Yeah, I think Lawson and Lindblad, if I had to put my money on it.

“Also, because F2 is sort of immaterial to these teams at this point. It’s a place where you put your driver while you do TPC [testing of previous cars] testing it seems like.

“Ferrari wasn’t fussed about Bearman, Mercedes wasn’t fussed about Antonelli’s season, and it seems that Red Bull and Racing Bulls are not fussed about Lindblad’s season, and they seem to be throwing a lot at him.

“In terms of sim driving and TPC testing, all the car testing to get him ready.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Lando Norris makes Arvid Lindblad prediction after his Formula 1 debut

F1 Oversteer understands that Red Bull believe Lindblad is too good not to promote, and while he’s only sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings in Formula 2 this season, teams appear to be taking less and less interest in the result that series produces.

Instead, Red Bull will be far more interested in Lindblad’s TPC running and his work in the simulator behind the scenes.

McLaren driver Lando Norris met the teenager earlier in his career, when Lindblad claimed he would be racing against him in Formula 1 very soon.

Norris made a Lindblad prediction after his practice outing at Silverstone that suggests he’s also recognised the hype.

Lawson and Hadjar have both been very impressive in recent races, and it would be extremely harsh if either of them lost their seats in 2026.

That leaves Tsunoda in a far more vulnerable position, although the chances of Lindblad leapfrogging Racing Bulls altogether seem minimal at best.