Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, despite a rare Super Licence exemption, will not make his F1 debut before his 18th birthday, leaving Max Verstappen's unique record untouched. Lindblad turned 18 on August 8, marking the end of his window to debut as a 17-year-old.
Why it matters
Max Verstappen remains the only 17-year-old to have raced in Formula 1, having made his debut with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015. This led the FIA to introduce a minimum age rule of 18, making Lindblad's exemption a significant, yet ultimately unused, opportunity.
The Details
- Exemption Granted: The FIA granted Lindblad a special exemption in June, theoretically opening the door for a pre-18 F1 debut. He is the first driver to receive such an exemption since the age rule was tightened.
- Silverstone FP1 Outing: Red Bull utilized the exemption by giving Lindblad his first official F1 session at the British Grand Prix, where he drove Yuki Tsunoda's RB21 in FP1. He posted the 14th fastest time, just half a second off Max Verstappen's pace.
- Competition for Seats: Despite the impressive FP1 performance, a mid-season promotion didn't materialize. With Verstappen and Tsunoda secured at Red Bull Racing, and Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson performing well at Racing Bulls, opportunities were limited.
- Christian Horner's Praise: Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Lindblad after Silverstone, calling him a "talented young guy" and a "prospect for the future."
- Verstappen's Advice: Max Verstappen urged Lindblad to "be himself" rather than try to be "the next Max," advising a step-by-step approach.
What's next
Lindblad, currently driving for Campos in Formula 2, is seventh in the standings. His F2 title hopes have recently suffered setbacks, including a disqualification for tire pressure infringements in Belgium and a time penalty for track limits in Hungary. He will now focus on his F2 campaign, aiming for a strong finish and a potential F1 seat in the future.