'I don’t know if that’s fully sunk in yet' - Lindblad reflects on ‘very special’ F1 debut

Arvid Lindblad has admitted that his encouraging debut weekend in Australia still hasn’t “fully sunk in yet” after he hit the ground running with a Q3 appearance and points for Racing Bulls.

The 18-year-old, who is this season’s only rookie driver, was promoted from Formula 2 at the end of last year and quickly demonstrated why he earned his seat – he outperformed team mate Liam Lawson in nearly every session at Albert Park, and secured the team’s first points of 2026.

With Lawson losing positions after starting in eighth, just ahead of Lindblad, the pressure of scoring was left on the teenager’s shoulders, which he took in his stride as he stormed through the field to reach a peak of third place before taking P8 at the chequered flag.

“I don’t really know if it’s all sunk in yet,” he said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. “It was a very special weekend, I enjoyed a lot. In the end it’s been something I’ve been working towards my whole life, getting to Formula 1, so to have my debut was very special.

“To have my dad there as well was really cool. I think the reality of being a Formula 1 driver and making my debut, I don’t know if that’s fully sunk in yet – I think that’s more the part I’d mention.

“But I’m very happy with the race – I think scoring points on my debut was very special and I think the manner in which I did it, being P3 at one point on Lap 1, was pretty cool and definitely more than I could have ever expected.”

Lindblad also got stuck into battles with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during the early stages of the race, which he previously said demonstrated that he’s “not going to hang about” when it comes to defending track position.

Taking P8 guaranteed him four points and a spot in the history books as he became the youngest British racer to score in a Grand Prix, and one of an exclusive list of drivers to score on their debut.

Prompted on what the achievement means to him, he replied: “It’s cool. I’m proud of it and I’m also grateful to everyone from the team, everyone from RBPT for helping to give me a strong package, but a lot of thanks to my parents and Red Bull itself and Dr [Helmut] Marko for the opportunity he’s given me, because he’s been a big part of why I’m standing here today, so I’m grateful to them.

“And on the British point as well, the youngest-ever British driver to score points, is really cool for me. I’m very proud to be from the UK – it’s a big part of why I’m here. The grassroots level in the UK is extremely high.

“There’s no mystery why there are five British drivers on the grid – the tracks, the level, the weather helps a lot, to teach drivers, to develop, and improve at such a fast rate, and it’s helped me a lot to stand here today.”