Arvid Lindblad details 'one shot' tactic to pass Liam Lawson at Belgian GP

Arvid Lindblad has revealed how patience and precise timing delivered his "one shot" to overtake team-mate Liam Lawson at the Belgian Grand Prix. The young driver capitalised on Lap 8 once Lawson’s overtake boost faded, but a rival’s free pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car ultimately denied him a stronger result at Spa.

Why it matters:

The intra-team duel offered a clear window into Lindblad’s growing racecraft as he balanced raw aggression against careful tyre management to beat an experienced team-mate. In a season where midfield margins are razor-thin, the lost position to Gabriel Bortoleto also served as a blunt reminder that a single well-timed strategy gamble can instantly erase hard-earned on-track progress.

The details:

• Lindblad started seventh with Lawson in ninth, but the New Zealander swept around the outside at Les Combes on the opening lap.
• Lindblad was forced to lift to avoid hitting Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, which itself had checked up amid the opening-lap fallout from the Hamilton-Russell incident.
• Attempts to counter at the exit of Les Combes and again at Turn 7 proved fruitless, allowing Lawson to settle at the head of the midfield behind the leading quintet.
• The Key Moment: On Lap 8, Lindblad finally executed his pass once Lawson lost the overtake mode boost, having deliberately conserved his tyres and energy for that single window.
• VSC Cost: Lindblad ultimately finished ninth after Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi team rolled the dice on a free pit stop during the Virtual Safety Car, vaulting the Brazilian ahead.

What's next:

Lindblad will look to build on a weekend where his personal performance was strong even if the final classification fell short. With the midfield battle tightening and every point magnified, converting qualifying pace into clean race results will be critical. Avoiding strategy pitfalls and capitalising on fleeting overtake opportunities will define his trajectory as the season progresses through the summer races.