Why Racing Bulls simply must sign Ayumu Iwasa over Arvid Lindblad for 2026 Formula 1 season

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Arvid Lindblad is set to learn his future for the 2026 season as Red Bull decide on their drivers for next year in Formula 1.

Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls are the only teams yet to finalise their line-ups for 2026. Only Max Verstappen is contracted for next season, and the Milton Keynes outfit have delayed their final decision until this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.

While nothing is confirmed, it is becoming quite obvious what the outcome will be. Isack Hadjar is set to join Red Bull next to Verstappen, while F2 junior Lindblad is looking good for a promotion to F1 with Racing Bulls – Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are fighting for the second seat.

Helmut Marko is a huge fan of Lindblad, with Red Bull gaining a special exemption to give the then-17-year-old an FIA superlicence. The team are preparing the Brit for F1, having been seriously impressed by his talent.

There is no doubt that Lindbad has extremely high potential, currently sitting seventh in his debut F2 season and impressing in FP1 sessions with Red Bull in 2025. Lindblad beat Tsunoda in Verstappen’s car in Mexico City.

Red Bull have upped their development of the 18-year-old as he looks good for a 2026 seat. However, there is a more experienced driver in their ranks with better results who deserves a chance in F1.

Racing Bulls have to sign Ayumu Iwasa over Arvid Lindblad in 2026

Ayumu Iwasa joined the Red Bull junior programme alongside Lindblad in 2021. Naturally, being 24, the Japanese driver has had more experience behind the wheel of an F1 car.

Iwasa outpaced Lawson in a private test last year, proving he can be competitive against current F1 talents. Furthermore, looking at his career, his results make for better reading than Lindblad.

Joining F2 in 2022, Iwasa was instantly competitive, finishing fifth in his first season and fourth in his second. Lindblad has faced difficulties in his rookie F2 campaign, scoring points only four times since his second win of the year in Catalunya.

In 2024, alongside being Racing Bulls’ reserve driver, Iwasa went to Super Formula, a more reputable and prestigious championship than F2. In faster cars that are much closer to F1 machinery, he won the title in 2025 with two wins and seven podiums.

Of course, Lindblad still has time to grow in his career. However, throwing him into F1 in a high-pressure situation, with new regulations to tackle and with a difficult F2 season behind him, may not be best for him or the team.

Iwasa has more experience, which will be paramount for 2026, and has had more success than Lindblad in his current category and in faster cars. He may be an outsider, but Racing Bulls have to consider him for next season.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa? Everything you need to know

Red Bull are also worried about Arvid Lindblad’s F2 results ahead of 2026 decision

Lindblad has met the expectations of Red Bull’s management with his displays in testing. But whether he can do that in a qualifying or race situation is another question as the team decide on their 2026 plans.

Laurent Mekies has doubts over Lindblad and his performances in F2 this season. While 2025 is his rookie season, they have left something to be desired from a driver who is being heavily linked to F1 next year.

It is why Mekies is having a hard time dropping Tsunoda, with the Japanese driver possibly in the running to return to the Faenza team. A second seat in F2 may be wise for Lindblad, but Marko is keen to get him into an F1 car.

Red Bull may keep Lawson to mentor Lindblad and give him the guidance he needs to tackle his debut F1 season. Only time will tell as to what the team will do for 2026, but Iwasa is a driver that they simply have to consider.