Why Arvid Lindblad’s first Red Bull F1 experience in Sebastian Vettel’s old car was completely unique

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Due to the heavy restrictions on in-season testing in Formula 1, there is often little opportunity for drivers to gain experience in cars on track before making a full-time race debut.

Under the current regulations, teams can run extensive ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ programmes throughout a season which enables them to run cars pre-2023 at circuits in-season.

Another way teams can run rookies is through show runs, which teams like Red Bull often complete as a way to promote F1 in various places around the world.

Recently the team ran a demo run in the US state of Houston with the RB8 and RB9, both title-winning cars at the hands of four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

According to a report by Motorsport Total, there was something unique about the run that caught the eye of onlookers.

Arvid Lindblad runs RB-liveried Sebastian Vettel F1 car

According to the report, Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad took to the wheel of the RB8 to complete the demonstration run in the city centre.

The RB8 is the car that Vettel won the 2012 title in what became a dramatic showdown between him and Fernando Alonso at the Brazilian GP.

But rather than being dressed in the usual Red Bull livery, instead, it was painted in the colours of Visa Cash App RB with Lindblad also wearing RB overalls.

Lindblad has been tipped as a potential future driver at Red Bull in the ‘next 18 months’ according to racing driver Oliver Rowland, who mentors the 17-year-old and believes he is targeting a 2026 drive.

Red Bull to reveal plans for future imminently

There is a lot of speculation over what Red Bull will do with its driver lineup in the future, with Liam Lawson currently waiting in the wings and Daniel Ricciardo’s future undecided.

If Ricciardo struggles to put in an impressive result at the next two circuits, Baku and Singapore, Red Bull may feel it is time to give Lawson a full-time drive at RB.

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Helmut Marko has remained tight-lipped on who their driver lineup will be for RB next season alongside Yuki Tsunoda, but revealed recently that Red Bull plan to announce their plans for Lawson this month.

With such a high-quality roster of talent on their books, Red Bull will not be short of drivers they can call upon should they need them in the future.