25/06/2025 10:00
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed Arvid Lindblad will be
handed an FP1 outing at the British Grand Prix later this year.
Lindblad was recently granted an early FIA super licence after Red
Bull sought an exemption to the rule that requires any super
licence holder to be 18 years of age. The Briton does not turn 18
until August but is set to be handed his F1 weekend debut prior to
the milestone birthday, becoming the first driver since Max
Verstappen to drive during a grand prix event at 17 years old.
Speaking to Kleine Zeitung , Marko confirmed Lindblad "spent half a
day in the car on Monday in Italy" to prepare himself in F1
machinery. However, he will soon get a bigger opportunity at his
home event, where he will make his first official session
appearance - however Marko did not specify if it would be behind
the wheel at Red Bull or Racing Bulls. "He'll also be in the car
for Friday's practice at Silverstone," Marko added. "He stands out
for his mental strength and self-confidence; his Swedish-Indian mix
is clearly very good for motorsport." F1 teams are required to
hand four FP1 outings to rookie drivers. Red Bull already fielded
Ayumu Iwasa in Bahrain earlier this year. While Lindblad may be
undergoing preparations for a future full-time driver, Marko stated
the F2 racer's early-career outing is a consequence of Max
Verstappen sitting perilously close to a race ban with 11 points on
his super licence. "We're preparing in case something really
happens to Max Verstappen regarding his penalty points," Marko
added. "We currently have two reserve drivers: Lindblad and Ayumu
Iwasa, whose Formula 1 schedules clash with his appearances in
Japan. "We even had a deal with another team for some races; at
one point, a reserve driver was even scheduled for three teams.
"It's not that easy to find someone who's in top shape. And that's
why Lindblad is in the car now."
