Will Linblad replace Verstappen soon?

14:33, 23 Jun

bySavannah Lenz

Arvid Lindblad has completed his first significant Formula 1 test. The F2 driver was seen at the Imola circuit testing for Racing Bulls.

In the AT04, Linblad completed a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC). As he drove the Racing Bulls 2023 car around its home circuit, it fell under the TPC regulations since the car was more than two years old. The 2023 car is the youngest car eligible for them to have put Linblad in.

Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa is also completing a TPC at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

The Imola Grand Prix is no longer on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar and thus will not be raced at next year.

Red Bull Racing had requested a super license exemption for Linblad earlier in the season. The British-Swede is only 17 years old and too young to drive in Formula 1. However, the FIA decided to grant the application, allowing Linblad to drive for F1 before his 18th birthday.

Lindblad has driven in Racing Bulls gear before.

If Red Bull Racing decides to run Linblad in a practice session, he will now have little experience with Formula 1 cars. While it is not known exactly when he will be able to drive in FP1, Linblad is only eight points from the Formula 2 championship lead. Therefore, it is not unfathomable that Red Bull would want to have him practice in the car.

This article was written in collaboration with Kevin Doldersum.