The Formula 1 world welcomes a new star in the making now that the FIA ​​has approved Red Bull’s request to grant the 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad a super license, so that he can participate in official Formula 1 sessions before his 18th birthday on 8 August 2025. This exceptional decision, made during the recent meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Macau, marks an important milestone for the young British driver, who is praised by Red Bull top adviser Helmut Marko as the “best talent” within the Red Bull program. This article highlights Lindblads performance, the meaning of this approval and the possible implications for his future and that of Red Bull in Formula 1.

Arvid Lindblad, a driver with British and Swedish roots, has made an impression since his karting years. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2021 and has since made a rapid rise through the junior categories. In 2023 he won the Macau F4 race, and at the beginning of 2025 he dominated the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, with which he collected the required 40 superlative points to be eligible for a Formula 1 license. His switch to Formula 2 this season, with Campos Racing, was also impressive. Lindblad became the youngest racing winner and polesitter in the history of Formula 2, with victories in the Sprintrace in Saudi Arabia and the main race in Barcelona. He is currently third in the F2 championship, only eight points behind leader Alex Dunne. The FIA ​​ruled that Lindblad “recently and consistently shown exceptional talent and maturity in one -side racing competitions,” which justified the approval of his early super license.

The approval of Lindblads Suerlicence is remarkable, not only because of its age, but also because it is a rare exception to the FIA ​​rule that drivers must be at least 18 years old to race in Formula 1. This rule was introduced in 2015 after the early debut of Max Verstappen, who rode his first race at the age of 17. A change in the FIA ​​International Sporting Code in 2024, introduced after a similar request for Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli, made it possible to grant 17-year-old drivers with exceptional performance a license. Lindblad is now the second driver who benefits from this exception, which underlines his potential. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner previously called him a “very exciting young talent,” while former driver Johnny Herbert even suggested that Lindblad could eventually become better than Verstappen.

The timing of this approval is crucial for Red Bull, which has to do with uncertainties around the line-up drivers. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, is at eleven penalty points on his super license after the incident with George Russell in Spain, where he caused a conscious collision. With one more penalty, he risks a suspension for a race, possibly in Canada or Austria. Although Red Bull’s request for Lindblads license was already submitted in April and is not directly related to Verstappen’s situation, it offers the racing stable extra options. If Verstappen is suspended, drivers such as Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar would move to the main team, while Lindblad could be given a place at sister team Racing Bulls, possibly next to reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa. Moreover, Lindblad can now participate in free training sessions, which helps Red Bull to meet the FIA ​​obligation to use a Rookie four times a season during FP1 sessions.

For Lindblad itself, the super license is a huge step towards a Formula 1 debut, possibly already in 2026. His consistent performance in Formula 2, including a point series of ten races and a second place in the Sprintrace in Imola, have put him in the spotlight. However, a racing seat in 2025 seems challenging, since in the Formula 2 struggle for the title he is involved and a switch to Formula 1 could harm his chances. Red Bull seems to follow a strategic approach, where Lindblad can gain experience in free practice sessions while he continues to develop in F2. Posts on X reflect the excitement around his potential, with fans and insiders who already compare him with Verstappen and see him as a future star.

The approval of Lindblads Suerlicence not only marks a personal triumph, but also a strategic move by Red Bull to strengthen their talent pool. While Verstappen is under pressure and the team is struggling with internal challenges, Lindblad offers a glimpse of a promising future. His admiration for Lewis Hamilton, whom he mentioned in an interview with Autosport as his motorsport hero, shows his ambition to learn from the best. The Formula 1 community is eagerly looking forward to his possible debut, which can herald a new chapter for both Red Bull and the sport itself.