Arvid Lindblad (Image credit: AP)
NEW DELHI: When Arvid Lindblad sat in his Racing Bulls at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, there was already buzz about a young driver with Indian roots making his debut alongside stars like Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
But once the flag fell, all eyes were on the 18-year-old, who went on to score points for his side on his debut.Lindblad finished eighth, earning four points for Racing Bulls. He jumped out of his car, celebrated with a roar, and relished the moment, his emotions clear after an impressive debut.Recently, Lindblad took a vacation to explore India where he tried street food in Mumbai, visited famous places, interacted with locals, and even stopped by Mannat.
The 18-year-old spoke to TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview about his Formula 1 journey so far, his connection with India, and much more.Excerpts:You scored points in your first race. It must have been an emotional moment, can you take us back to that memory?Yes, it was very special and very emotional. It’s something I’ve dreamed of all my life, to get to Formula One. Finally having that moment in Australia, with my parents there, made it even more special. The whole weekend went smoothly – making it to Q3, scoring points, and even being in the top three at one stage on the opening lap was absolutely surreal.
I absolutely loved every bit of it. It is a day I will remember forever.What was it like for you lining up against the drivers you grew up watching as icons of the sport? What was it like to race alongside them?Yes, it was very surreal. Racing alongside guys like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton – and even Max Verstappen, who was really rising in the sport around the time I started following it – was incredibly special. These are drivers you’ve seen for years on TV, so it’s hard to put into words being out there racing wheel to wheel. I would say that Lewis is the one who probably impressed me the most at first, and even now there are still a lot of “pinch me” moments.
Even in Japan, during the drivers’ parade, I felt special being there next to him. But once I get on the right track and put the helmet on, it’s different – we’re all competitors, and I’ll take every opportunity I can. However, it’s amazing. I remember even last year during the first FP sessions, hearing ‘Hamilton is coming’ on the radio when he was on a practice session – it’s very special just hearing that and sharing the track with him.
It must have been a special moment for your family as well. What were those conversations like?Yes, it was really special. This has always been my dream and journey – something I have been working towards for a long time. But it’s not just mine, it’s something we’ve all sacrificed for as a family. My parents, and even my brother, all played a role in this. So it really felt like a family moment.That’s why having them there with me in Melbourne made it even more important. It’s hard to describe, but I remember after the race, as soon as I got out of the car and left the media pen, my parents were waiting for me in the hospitality room.
The first thing I did was just hug them. It’s something we’ve dreamed of for years – especially my dad and I.For a long time, I felt so far away. We were in the UK, racing on small tracks, waking up at 6am in the cold and rain. My father was a mechanic, and we did everything ourselves. It wasn’t always real that we would get here one day. Suddenly, it became real. It happens. That moment just hit us. We didn’t talk much, we just hugged, getting a bit emotional.
I almost had tears in my eyes after the race. It was a very special feeling.You share a great bond with Max Verstappen. This viral video of him asking for your driver’s license has drawn a lot of attention – what was that moment like?(Laughs) Yeah, it was great. I’ve known Max Verstappen for a while, and he’s always been very friendly with me. I have great respect for him, not only as a driver, because the level at which he performs is unbelievable, but also as a person.He was always kind, friendly and willing to offer advice when I needed it. What stands out is how humble and grounded he is – he hasn’t let fame or the spotlight change him, which is really great to see.
In that sense, he’s definitely someone I look up to. I was fortunate to spend time with him and build a good relationship.That moment that went viral was from a filming day a few months ago, when it turned out I hadn’t gotten my driver’s license yet. It was a funny situation, and we could relate to it together, having entered Formula 1 at a very young age. I think our journeys were quite similar in that sense – we progressed quickly, got into Formula 1 when we were young, and were part of the Red Bull setup.
So it was really great to share those experiences and moments with him.Three races into your career now – what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far?I think there has been a huge change in Formula 1 this year with the new regulations – new engines, new cars, new tires – so there has been a lot to learn and get up to speed. For me, the biggest challenge now is managing everything. I’ve already felt since last year, running TPC and FP1 sessions, that in Formula 1 you have a much greater influence on the car.There are many tools available and a lot you can modify compared to other categories. In the entry-level series, it’s just you and the car – and you can’t change much. But in Formula 1, there is a lot of performance that can be unlocked, and this year even more so, especially on the power unit side. The way you drive – your inputs – can affect how and when you get power, and how you deliver it.So, there are a lot of variables you can control, and the key is to use them in the right way at the right time.
Managing all of that, especially during the race when so much is happening, was not easy. It’s something all drivers adapt to because it’s so different, but as a beginner, I feel like there’s more performance I can achieve compared to others.
I’ve talked a lot about Oliver Rowland. What role has he played in your journey?Yes, Ollie has been a huge help to me – someone I have known for a very long time. I first met him when I was seven years old, and we actually started go-karting together. He supported me so much when I was racing in Europe – coming to the races, keeping in touch, and guiding me along the way.
In Formula 3 and Formula 2, he became more involved.He attended many races and played a huge role in my development. His relationship with Red Bull was also a key factor in helping me progress quickly through the classification and into Formula One. It’s actually very difficult to describe his role because he’s part of everything. He’s a mentor, but it also feels like family given how long we’ve known each other.He helps me in all aspects of being a driver. As you know, the role today is not only limited to leadership.
It works for me It focuses on performance, provides feedback on what I can improve on, but also helps with things like preparing for race weekends, dealing with the media, and managing everything that comes with the job. So it’s not just one thing – he has been there to guide me in every aspect of my journey.If you hadn’t followed professional racing, what do you think you’d be doing today?I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve always loved sports and I’m a passionate and competitive person. So I think I would have ended up doing some kind of sport.
Maybe even cricket, who knows? But honestly, it’s hard to say – I started karting when I was five years old, so this path started very early for me. I’m sure I would have been involved in sports in some way.You have a unique heritage and a strong connection to India through your family. Has this affected your identity or the way you approach your career? What do you enjoy most about your visits to India?Yes, I am very proud of my Indian heritage. It was a huge part of my upbringing and has helped shape me into the person and driver I am today.
From a young age, I was connected to it – celebrating traditions, doing pujas with my grandparents, and enjoying Indian food served by my nanny. I still remember when she would come to the race track when I was seven or eight, bringing me home-cooked meals – we would eat rajma chawal, chapati and chana in the back of the car.These are really special memories that have kept me in touch with my roots. It’s something I’ve been talking about recently, but it’s always been important to me.
The values – hard work, humility, and always giving your best – have had a huge influence on who I am today. I always enjoy coming to India. As I mentioned, the puja we did together in Delhi before the show, where she wished me well before my first race in Melbourne, was really special.
It’s those little things that mean a lot. We share a very close bond, and I really appreciate that bond.Can you tell us a little about your journey with Red Bull – from the junior program to now being on the Formula 1 grid?Yes, obviously I’m very grateful to Red Bull for the support they’ve given me.
I signed up for the program when I was 13, at the end of 2020, and since then things have come a long way – it’s been a truly special journey. I still remember how it all started, when I met Helmut Marko (former Austrian Formula 1 driver) in a hotel and he told me he wanted to sign me.I was very excited, especially knowing that he supported drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, who went on to achieve great things. For him, showing that kind of faith in me means a lot.
Since then, Helmut and Rocky have played a huge role in my development. Rocky, especially on the technical side, was someone I relied on a lot. His experience, including working closely with Sebastian and winning world championships, has helped me learn and improve as a driver.With Helmut, I’ve always had a very honest relationship. We talk openly about what is going well and what needs improvement, and that has really helped me progress quickly.
Thanks to them, and the entire Red Bull Junior programme, I was able to move up the rankings very quickly and get into Formula One. I will always be very grateful for this opportunity, especially to Helmut, who played a huge role in me getting this opportunity.
I wouldn’t be here without this support.How was your last trip to Mumbai?I had a lot of fun visiting Mumbai – I went to Mannat, spent time on the beaches, interacting with the kids, and playing cricket with them on the field where Sachin Tendulkar started his career.
It was a really fun experience to experience. It was my second visit to India – we came in December 2025 as well – but this was my first time in Mumbai, and I absolutely loved it. It was great to learn more about Indian culture and explore the city.We did a mix of touristy things and fun activities. We visited Mannat, went to India Gate, and explored a lot around the city. I even tried vada pav for the first time, and it was amazing.
Overall, it was a great trip – we did a lot of things and really got the full experience. I loved every bit of it and am really looking forward to returning later this year.I played cricket at the Mumbai arena, where Sachin Tendulkar started his journey. How was that experience?To be honest, I don’t know if I was at the level where I could say I played the right shots – I was mostly just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could. But it was great fun. The kids were incredibly friendly. When we were playing on the field, there were people of all ages – adults in their twenties and thirties, even older, and young children around six or seven years old.
Everyone was so welcoming and happy to let me join. I had the opportunity to stand in front of the wicket, take some shots and enjoy the moment. It was a really fun experience playing with everyone.I also visited Mannat, Shah Rukh Khan’s hometown. How was that visit?I mean, Shah Rukh Khan is obviously a huge Bollywood star – almost a legend, to be honest. I can’t quite remember the name of the movie now, but I remember a scene we tried to recreate when I was in Delhi a couple of months ago.We did a fun social concept where we were replicating that special moment when he comes home and meets his mother. I took a walk, and then we had that warm hug and cuddle. I don’t remember the exact dialogue, but the scene itself is really famous, and it was a lot of fun trying to recreate it.
