Britain's Newest F1 Driver, Arvid Lindblad, Makes Good on His Promise to Lando Norris

Arvid Lindblad, the 18-year-old British karting sensation, is set to make his Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls at the start of 2026, fulfilling a bold prediction he made to Lando Norris in 2021. Then a 14-year-old, Lindblad famously told Norris, “Lando, I want you to remember me, I will see you in five years,” during a karting event. This audacious declaration, inspired by Lewis Hamilton's similar encounter with Ron Dennis, highlights Lindblad's long-held ambition and self-belief.

Why it matters:

Lindblad's rapid ascent through the motorsport ranks, culminating in an F1 seat at a young age, underscores Red Bull's continued strategy of fast-tracking prodigious talent. His journey from an 'extreme' karting talent to a future F1 driver signifies a potential new British star on the grid and could inject fresh excitement into the sport. His Red Bull backing and early F1 practice impressions hint at a promising future, with many in the F1 paddock eagerly watching his development.

The Details:

• The Prediction: In 2021, a 14-year-old Lindblad approached Lando Norris at Adria Karting Raceway, telling him, “Lando I want you to remember me, I will see you in five years.” Lindblad confirmed to Sky Sports that this was a spontaneous challenge from a friend, inspired by Lewis Hamilton's similar encounter with Ron Dennis in 1995.
• Early Influences: Lindblad, born in Surrey in 2007, grew up watching Lewis Hamilton's dominance, finding a personal connection due to their shared birth year and Hamilton's status as a British driver of color. He started karting at five years old.
• Mentorship: Reigning Formula E champion Oliver Rowland took Lindblad under his wing in 2016 when Lindblad was just seven. Rowland described him as 'special,' noting his exceptional maturity and singular focus on becoming a racing driver.
• Karting Success: Lindblad's karting career saw him win the British Championship and compete at a global level, often against older drivers. Rowland even formed a karting team, Oliver Rowland Motorsport, specifically for him.
• Red Bull Junior Program: Lindblad joined the Red Bull Junior Team at 13, in late 2020, after an unexpected call from Dr. Helmut Marko. He met Marko at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix, officially joining the prestigious program.
• Single-Seater Progression: He finished third in his maiden Italian F4 season in 2023, winning the Macau F4 World Cup. In 2024, he moved to F3, where despite not winning the championship, he showed impressive speed, including a double win at Silverstone. His F2 season had mixed results but demonstrated flashes of brilliance, including a Sprint win in Saudi Arabia and a feature race victory in Spain.
• Super Licence and F1 Practice: Lindblad secured his Super Licence by winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship at the start of 2025. He completed private tests in a 2023 AlphaTauri and made his F1 free practice debut with Red Bull at the British Grand Prix and the Mexico City Grand Prix, impressing team principals. In Mexico, he was faster than Yuki Tsunoda and the quickest among the nine rookies.

What's next:

Arvid Lindblad's trajectory to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls in 2026 marks him as one of Britain's most exciting young talents. While the journey to becoming a world champion is long and arduous, his mentor Oliver Rowland believes Lindblad possesses all the necessary attributes. With Red Bull's strong backing and a clear demonstration of speed and adaptability, the F1 paddock will be closely watching if Lindblad can translate his karting and junior formula success into a top-tier F1 career and potentially live up to his mentor's high expectations.