Arvid Lindblad is within the body to be a Crimson Bull and RB reserve driver after securing his FIA Tremendous License by successful the System Regional Oceania Championship.
The 17-year-old British-Swedish driver has been rising shortly by way of the ranks and claimed 4 victories in his maiden System 3 season final yr, ending fourth within the drivers’ standings. Added to his third-placed end within the 2023 Italian System 4 championship, Lindblad was racing in New Zealand to attempt to safe the ultimate factors required for his Tremendous License, and duly did so by securing the title with two races to spare.
“What an unbelievable journey,” Lindblad mentioned of his first single-seater title. “Proud to be topped FR Oceania Champion. An enormous shout-out to my group and everybody who’s been a part of this journey. What a tremendous few weeks in New Zealand – such a surprising place.”
Lindblad, who has impressed Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner along with his trajectory to this point, is about to step as much as System 2 in 2025 with Campos Racing, the identical group that ran RB rookie Isack Hadjar final season. Though Lindblad doesn’t flip 18 till August, current modifications to the FIA Tremendous License necessities allow 17 yr olds to be granted the flexibility to race in F1 “in distinctive circumstances”.
Crimson Bull has but to verify its reserve driver plans after selling Liam Lawson rather than Sergio Perez over the winter, with Hadjar taking Lawson’s place alongside Yuki Tsunoda at RB. Each Lawson and Hadjar had served as reserve drivers final season.
Whereas Lindblad took the FR Oceania title, the highest American driver was Nikita Johnson who completed third total with one victory and 5 additional podiums from the 15 races. The 16-year-old is about to mix his first full season within the GB3 Championship this yr with 4 Indy NXT races for HMD Motorsports.