As Arvid Lindblad prepares for his Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2026, the 18-year-old has taken time to reflect on the figure who quietly shaped much of his journey: outgoing Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
With Marko relinquishing the role that defined Red Bull’s fearsome junior pipeline, an era of ruthless talent spotting is coming to a close.
And in the wake of the Austrian veteran’s departure, Lindblad becomes the final prodigy to earn a promotion to racing’s elite under his watchful eye.
“It’s quite a big thing,” the rookie said of his relationship with Marko. “I mean, I've worked very closely with them the last couple years, Rocky [Guillaume Rocquelin, Head of the Red Bull Driver Academy] and Dr Marko and the whole team.
“I’m extremely grateful for their support and all the work we've done, but especially with Dr Marko.
“It's not been the easiest year for me. I'm not happy with how it's gone, but he believed in me when others didn't, and I'm very grateful for that.”
Honesty Over Comfort
Marko’s reputation for being demanding – even intimidating – has been well chronicled over the years, but Lindblad insists his own experience was very different, the Briton describing a mentor who valued substance over smoke and mirrors.
“I find it funny when a lot of people say how difficult it can be to work with him, their stories of how they struggled to work with Dr Marko, how he's very difficult and people are scared of him,” commented Lindblad.
“For me, it's always been the opposite. I've always had a very good relationship with him.
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“There are certain things he wants to see, and I mean, I can’t talk for others and their experience, but I’ve always had a very good relationship with him, and he’s helped my career massively.
“The fact that he believed in me when others didn't, I'm very grateful towards him, because this opportunity wouldn't have come without him.”
For a teenager facing the immense pressure of the Red Bull junior programme, Mako’s directness was a lifeline during a challenging 2025 campaign.
“I don't really like excuses and when people talk rubbish, and he doesn't do that – he just says the truth, and I like to do the same. I think on that side, it's helped me,” he added.
“It's helped me to learn the best way, helped me progress the fastest, because he just says the truth and the way things have been. And I appreciate that honesty as well, because there are a lot of people in motorsport who want you to tell them what they want to hear.”
Ready for the Next Step
Lindblad’s sixth-place finish in the FIA F2 Championship may not tell the full story, with Red Bull backing his progression through extensive simulator work, FP1 outings and Testing of Previous Cars.
His confidence was underlined in Abu Dhabi’s post-season test, where he clocked 139 laps and finished just 0.014s behind team-mate Liam Lawson.
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“I've been doing a lot on the sim with [Red Bull]. I have been for a while now, already started a bit last year, and then obviously, I've been doing some of the FP1s, a little bit of TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] running,” he explained.
“So I've been doing a lot of work with Red Bull.
“I think that it isn’t just F2 that has helped the decision [to choose me] for next year. I’ve been working closely with [Red Bull] for a long time. It’s my fifth year on the programme, so I have a very close relationship with all of them.”
With Marko’s era closing and Lindblad’s just beginning, the message is clear: belief, honesty and patience can still pave the way to Formula 1.
Read also:
Schumacher: Marko wrong to air Red Bull’s ‘dirty laundry’
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