Arvid Lindblad will be the only rookie in Formula 1 in 2026—his team has already warned him that it could be “difficult,” but he remains confident.
Arvid Lindblad will drive for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson in the 2026 Formula 1 season, making him the only rookie this year. Although all drivers will face new challenges due to the new regulations, the 18-year-old Briton will not have it any easier.
Team principal Alain Permane and managing director Peter Bayer had even warned Lindblad that it would be a big challenge to be competitive right from the start. “Their advice was that it would be difficult,” the Brit revealed to F1.com at last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi.
“I shouldn’t be naive. I am very aware that it will be a big challenge. It will be a really big step up,“ said the new Racing Bulls driver. ”There is a lot of work I need to do in the coming months before Barcelona.“
Arvid Lindblad: ”Nothing I don’t already know”
Preparation is important, but “even then, during all the tests and in the first races of the season, there will be a lot of things I need to learn to get up to speed,” Lindblad added. “That will also be the case on the team side, because there will be so many new things.”
“We will all have to learn and develop together.
It’s just a matter of keeping an open mind. It’s nothing I don’t already know—I just have to work hard and stay focused.” What makes Lindblad confident is his career in the junior series. The British driver with Swedish roots spent a total of only three and a half years there and had to learn a lot in a very short time. Lindblad finished his rookie season in Formula 3 in fourth place and came sixth overall in Formula 2 last year.
“Used to being thrown in at the deep end”
“I’ve moved up the ranks pretty quickly,” emphasized the 18-year-old. “I was only in each category for a year, so I’m used to being thrown in at the deep end. On that side, it will definitely help me [adapt to Formula 1] because I’m used to situations like that.”
“But on the other hand, I haven’t driven Formula 1 yet, so I don’t know what to expect.” Last year, the Red Bull junior only made three appearances as a Friday driver and took part in test drives after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
That’s why the Brit remains cautious with his predictions for the new season. “We’ll have to wait and see, and I need to keep an open mind and work hard,” says Lindblad, aware of his tasks for 2026. “Because this step will be the biggest I’ve taken so far.”
