(Image: Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool)
Another 17-year-old Red Bull driver and rising star? No, it’s not Arvid Lindblad!
13:17, 22 Jun
Updated: 13:40, 22 Jun
0 Comments
While waiting to see if and when Red Bull will give Arvid Lindblad the chance to race in Formula 1 in the near future, the Austrian team already has another young talent ready to break through.
Born on October 29, 2007, in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Fionn McLaughlin could already be the next big name for Red Bull — while fans wait to see when and how Arvid Lindblad will make his Formula 1 debut in the near future.
The young Northern Irish driver, also 17 like Lindblad and a member of the Red Bull Junior Programme, is fighting for the British F4 title this year in what is his debut season in single-seaters.
"If I'm in the Red Bull academy and I'm doing a good job, then I think it's realistic. I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it to F1," McLaughlin told BBC Sport NI.
"Red Bull are giving me the opportunity and I think I have the ability to make it. If you don't believe in yourself, you won't be able to get anywhere''.
"When I was six years of age driving around, the thought of being in F4 or F3 was something I never would have thought of. I'm proud to be here and I'll always be grateful for the steps I'm making."
Helmut Marko unearthed another Red Bull talent
Continuing the interview, McLaughlin spoke about how he was given an opportunity by Helmut Marko himself — the man known for launching the careers of many young drivers who went on to become F1 champions: "I was doing well at go-karting and had an opportunity from Red Bull. I just tried to do a good job to see where it took me''.
"I was up against six other drivers, it was good competition and there was a bit of pressure. I was able to deliver and they obviously thought I was decent enough to take me on board for the junior team''.
"Helmut Marko came over to me and said, 'I think you're a good driver and I want you on our team'. He said I had potential and would take me on as far as he could in the future. He's a nice man and he's given me the opportunity to race in F4."
The young driver ultimately admitted that he has always looked up to Sebastian Vettel as his inspiration: "My whole life I looked up to Sebastian Vettel, from when I was six''.
"I thought he was amazing so I always had that dream of making it to Formula 1 - and with Red Bull. It's great to be in the academy and looking forward F1 is my goal. I'm happy I have this opportunity."
Read also
Read more about:
Today
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Horner has good news for Verstappen in the 2025 F1 World Championship battle
5100 times read
2
F1 Today | Verstappen admits he was 'close to crying' after race, Pitt praises Hamilton's 'F1' impact
1236 times read
3
Verstappen and Piquet set to welcome another girl into the family after birth of daughter Lily
1020 times read
4
Verstappen takes short vacation break with his family on his superyacht ahead of Austrian GP
683 times read