Red Bull is reportedly preparing to shake things up at the upcoming British Grand Prix with a surprise change in their driver lineup.
Following a brief break after the Canadian Grand Prix, Formula 1 returns this weekend in Austria. But the spotlight is already shifting to Silverstone, where Red Bull plans to give a young talent a high-profile opportunity.
In a move similar to McLaren’s, which will see Irish prospect Alex Dunne drive Lando Norris’ car in FP1 to meet rookie participation requirements, Red Bull is set to feature 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad in Friday’s practice session at the British Grand Prix.
According to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, Lindblad recently completed a half-day test in Italy to prepare for the outing and will get behind the wheel during FP1 at Silverstone. “He’s mentally strong and very self-assured,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung. “His Swedish-Indian background seems to suit the demands of motorsport perfectly.”
It remains unclear whether Lindblad will step in for Max Verstappen or Yuki Tsunoda, but the young driver’s debut is already making headlines.
Lindblad, who just turned 17, was recently granted a Formula 1 superlicense after Red Bull submitted a special request to the FIA—making him the youngest recipient of the license since Verstappen, who made his debut at 17 years, 5 months, and 13 days old.
Marko also emphasized Lindblad’s psychological resilience, adding: “With Lindblad, we’re nurturing a talent with exceptional mental strength. We now have two reserve drivers—previously, it was only [Ayumu] Iwasa, who often has race conflicts in Japan.”
Lindblad’s upcoming FP1 run at Silverstone will mark his official F1 debut.
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