Arvid Lindblad: From karting to F1 in five years—that was the plan

MUMBAI: In 2021, Arvid Lindblad walked up to Lando Norris during a karting event and told the McLaren driver to “remember me — I will see you in five years.” It was Lindblad’s way of saying that he intended to be racing alongside Norris in Formula One one day.

At the time, Lindblad not only wanted to prove his “friend wrong” but also had complete belief in his ability to crack into Formula One. Those words will come true in 2026, when he gets a chance to challenge the newly crowned world champion while driving for Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior team, at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8. The London-born, Surrey-raised driver will be 18 years and 213 days old when he takes to the grid, making him the third-youngest debutant in the sport’s history.

Lindblad started karting at five, got hooked onto it instantly and was hellbent on making it to the F1. The journey wasn't easy; he had to go around Europe to make the grade and compete with kids older than him. In 2021 he joined the Red Bull Junior team and that accelerated his growth. From his full first single-seater F4 season in 2023 to Formula One in 2026, Lindblad's rise has been rapid.

Lindblad’s father, Stefan, is Swedish, while his mother, Anita, is British of Indian origin. His grandparents migrated to England in the late 1960s, marking a second migration for his grandfather Anand Sheel Ahuja, who was forced to leave his village in Kohat, in the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan), during the Partition.

Indian culture and food have played a significant role in Lindblad’s life and career, and he is currently in the process of obtaining his OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card. Enjoying his time in Mumbai, Lindblad opens up to TOI about his journey, his love for rajma-chawal and chicken curry, and how he plans to tackle the demanding world of Formula One. Excerpts:

What brings you to India, besides exploring the country where your grandparents were born?

I really enjoyed coming to India, last year I went to Delhi. It is my first time in Mumbai, being here with my grandparents, my mum, and learning about my culture. I will be back at the start of next year as well for the Red Bull Moto Jam and I’m looking forward to driving an F1 car on the streets of Delhi.

When you decided to have that conversation with Lando, what were you thinking about? Did you ever imagine those words will indeed come true?

I didn’t know that he was going to come. Me and my friend were walking in the paddock, and I saw Lando and I kind of said to him that I was going to go up to him. My friend was like: “no you can’t”. I just wanted to prove him wrong. The first thing that came out was: “I want you to remember me, I’ll see you in five years.” It’s very cool that I was right on the timeline. I had this sort of determination and belief that I could get into Formula One when I started this journey when I was five. I had that same belief that day and I have that same belief today.

It has been a rapid rise for you...from the first full F4 season in 2023 to F1 in 2026. When you took to karting, did you ever imagine breaking into F1 so soon?

I was just focused on trying to learn as much as I can, drive as fast as I can. One thing I was sure of was that the better I do, the faster I will come through the ranks and that will give me a higher chance of getting to Formula One as the longer you take, the probability reduces. Obviously, it has not been easy. In the last few years, I’ve been racing against drivers with a lot more experience, a lot older than me, which will be even more so the case next year in F1.

Red Bull drivers are always under the gaze and there’s always a comparison with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. How do you plan to tackle it?

Every driver, from every team is under the scanner. I think Red Bull is just being spoken about more. So, for me, it’s not something I think about. I’m just focused on (the next season). I’m focused on working hard over the winter with the team on the SIM at the factory. I’m very fortunate that I’ll get three pre-season tests, which is more than normal. So, I need to really utilise that to the maximum to help put me in as best position as possible for Melbourne.

The jump from F2 to F1 will be huge. So, in terms of fitness, where you are, where you want to be. Any favourite food you must stop eating?

I don’t know about the physical step up between F2 and F1 because I haven’t raced in F1 yet. It will surely be difficult and different to F2. The F2 car is very physical because we have no power steering. In F1 the races are longer because of which it’s a bit hotter in the cockpit. So, from a fitness point of view, I think the neck is going to be the main thing I’ll be working on.

As far as food is concerned, I always try to do everything in moderation. I can’t have gluten. And when I’m at home, my nani tries to make gluten free chapatis but it’s not easy. Whenever I come to India, I’m very lucky. They’re always able to make me missi roti. I’ve been enjoying that this week. When I return, that’ll be something I’ll have to ease back on.

You are British born, your father is Swedish, and mother is of Indian origin. How have those three cultures impacted you as a person?

I’ve been raised in a very multicultural, multi-faith background. It’s shaped who I am today. I love eating dal, rajma, and chicken curry cooked by my nani and celebrating puja at home. My parents have helped me to have a lot of values, which are quite Indian as well. But also, there’s a British and Swedish influence of working hard, being humble, and always giving your best.

Whom did you idolise while growing up?

Lewis Hamilton was the one I looked up to the most when I started racing. I felt a bit of a connection towards him, because he debuted in the year I was born, he was the only one of colour, and he was obviously doing very well at the time when I was sort of getting into the sport.

You are at an age where there are a lot of distractions. How do you keep yourself focused on the job at hand?

My team helps a little bit, but I wouldn’t really say there’s anyone who is really forcing that upon me, because in the end, it comes from me. I always wanted to be in F1, and I’ve known that comes with a certain sacrifice. But I don’t really see it as sacrifice, because it’s what I want to do.

If you wouldn't have gotten into the Red Bull Junior programme, how difficult would it have been to get into F1?

It would have been very difficult, especially the way that motorsport is currently. It's almost impossible to think about getting into Formula 1, without some backing. I'm very grateful to Red Bull for what they've done. It helped on a level of giving an opportunity to have a step, but more than that, they helped me learn and develop into the driver I am today, and without that I wouldn't be in the position I am, and also you know racing is an expensive sport, and also having a bit of backing on that side helped as well.

According to you, what prompted Red Bull to offer you a seat at the Racing Bulls?

I've been on the programme since 2021 and I've really risen through the ranks. I did my first two years on the programme in karting. So, I really rose through the ranks of single seaters with Red Bull. And I wouldn't have been able to make the steps like I did without their support. I had a good year in F3 (2024). In F2 (2025) there were good moments. I think the FP1 (first free practice) in Mexico (2025 F1) was strong. There have been times when I perform well, and when I haven't performed that well. Something that was maybe different was that I was a lot younger than the others I was racing against with a lot less experience and I was still able to compete with them.

Red Bull's former motorsport advisor Helmut Marko and former team principal Christian Horner have spoken highly about you? What confidence gives you entering the season?

It's nice they have said such things. For me, when I started this journey when I was five, I believed that I could be in Formula One. There's a lot of media, there's a lot of noise as well, so you need to be able to deal with that and filter it. Sometimes it will be difficult, so you need to have a bit of self-confidence. I don't really think about it too much, because for me what people say in the media doesn't really help me go faster.


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