Red Bull’s Arvid Lindblad has admitted there is “added pressure” going into his upcoming Formula 2 season with Campos Racing after growing conversations surrounding his potential future in F1.
Lindblad, who has been widely regarded as a rising star of the sport, clinched the Formula Regional Oceania Championship earlier this year, and has now amassed enough points to earn his FIA super licence, sparking comparisons with Max Verstappen and conversations surrounding his journey up to the pinnacle of motorsport.
When asked about these high expectations at Campos’s F2 media day with Pit Debrief and other media outlets, Lindblad said: “It’s good that there’s this awareness that I’m getting recognised. There is added pressure, but I’ve got a really good team of people around me so I don’t let it bother me.”
All eyes on Lindblad
Lindblad will make his F2 debut at Melbourne in two weeks’ time. Having risen through the ranks at a rapid pace, including achieving an impressive fourth place in his first and only Formula 3 season with Prema Racing, it’s likely that the 17-year-old will be under some serious scrutiny from the senior management team at Red Bull.
While Red Bull has not expressed a clear objective for him, Lindblad acknowledged that the pressure is there: “The expectation is quite high but there hasn’t been any sort of clear, fixed goal. I expect a lot from myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself. So I’m very focused on working hard and being competitive and trying to have a good year. Because, as I’ve said before, that’s the thing that’s going to give me the best opportunity.”
Despite having obtained the minimum threshold of 40 points, Lindblad cannot apply for his own super licence until he is 18 years old, and it’s unclear whether an application on his behalf is already underway. “Red Bull are dealing with that,” he said.
F1 future
There have been speculations that Lindblad may be able to prove his skills in some F1 metal this season, but when asked if he might participate in a free practice session with Red Bull or VCARB in the near future, he gave no indication that plans had been made.
“With regards to FP1s and stuff, I’m not sure. I’m not really too in the loop with all that sort of stuff. I’m very focused on just the F2 season ahead because that’s what’s going to dictate my future,” he said.
The 2025 Formula 2 season will kick off in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix on the 14th of March.
