Arvid Lindblad notes the swift jumps he has had to make in the feeder championships and embracing it in F1, as he recalls the moment with Lando Norris.
Before his jump to F1, outside his junior exploits, Lindblad had a famous interaction with McLaren’s Norris – and now world champion – about making his debut in the pinnacle of racing in five years time during a brief chat at Silverstone during the British GP weekend.
Lindblad was in karting back in 2021 when they met and he told Norris to ‘remember him in five years time’. By stroke of luck or dedication or both, the Brit has made it to F1 and will be a rival of the world champion on the grid in the Visa Cash App RB car.
“It’s a funny story with Lando, I just remember seeing him and it’s the first thing that came to mind,” said Lindblad to F1 website. “When I started this journey when I was five, I believed I could be in F1. I had that same belief when I was 14 and I have that same belief today. I’m very happy that I stuck to the timeline and it’s a nice little story now.”
His journey has been a fast one indeed. After a few years in karting, Lindblad made his single-seater debut in 2022 and did two years in Italian F4 alongside few appearances in other F4 level championships. He was third in the standings in 2023 after which he moved to F3 in 2024.
Having finished fourth in his rookie season, he graduated to F2 in 2025 and started the season after winning the winter championship in Formula Regional Oceania Championship. The year in F2 didn’t go as per plans where he had some off moments, to finish sixth in the end.
But it was still enough to be pushed into F1 in 2025 alongside Liam Lawson, with Isack Hadjar graduating to senior Red Bull team alongside Max Verstappen. It has been a challenging for Lindblad with quick graduations, but he feels he has adapted well to every level he has competed in.
When he makes in F1 in 2026, he will have only four years of single-seater experience. “I’ve learnt an immense amount,” continued Lindblad. “When I stepped into F3 I had just done one year of F4, so I was very new to everything. I’ve had to make a massive step on all sides, on everything, over the last two years. To choose one [thing] is not easy.
“I think probably the biggest thing is just how little track time we have and having to learn to deal with that. I had to make a big step in F3, I’ve had to make another big step this year. Just because of how fast I’ve come through, every weekend I’ve had to be focusing on improving myself,” summed up Lindblad.
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