Lindblad to replace Verstappen in FP1 in Mexico City

©RedBull

40

Arvid Lindblad is about to take another major step on his fast-track journey to Formula 1, with the highly rated teenager set for his second FP1 outing with Red Bull Racing on Friday in Mexico City.

The Campos F2 charger will replace Max Verstappen in the opening practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, adding to the early mileage he enjoyed with Red Bull at last summer’s British Grand Prix.

The run is part of every F1 team’s mandatory requirement to field a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions per car over the course of the season.

While Verstappen’s absence from FP1 won’t affect his weekend much – Mexico City is one of the Dutchman’s strongest circuits, boasting five wins from nine starts – it’s a priceless opportunity for Lindblad to gain seat time at the top level.

And for Red Bull, it’s a chance to continue its evaluation of the 18-year-old’s adaptability and composure in the venue’s tricky high-altitude environment.

A Rising Star in the Making

Lindblad’s meteoric rise has been one of the Red Bull Junior Programme’s biggest talking points. The Macau Grand Prix winner and former Formula 3 front-runner is currently in his rookie Formula 2 campaign, sitting seventh in the standings.

While the position might not leap off the page, Red Bull insiders believe the F2 pecking order doesn’t fully reflect the true performance gap, given the variance in team experience and track familiarity.

©RedBull

Having already clinched his FIA superlicence by winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship last winter, Lindblad is eligible to make the step up should Red Bull or Racing Bulls come calling for 2026.

The young Briton’s name continues to circulate as a frontrunner for a potential Racing Bulls seat next season, as Red Bull reshuffles its junior lineup.

Read also: Aston Martin F1 junior Jak Crawford in action in FP1 in Mexico

With fellow young bull Ayumu Iwasa expected to run Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls car in FP1 next weekend, Red Bull’s development programme is firing on all cylinders as it prepares for its next generation of drivers.

For now, though, Lindblad’s focus is clear: make the most of his chance in Verstappen’s race winning machine and prove that his F1 ambitions are not a matter of if, but when.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.