Arvid Lindblad, the 17-year-old British driver in Red Bull`s junior programme, has received an F1 super licence. This follows a special exemption request made by the team that was approved by the FIA.
An F1 super licence is a requirement to compete in the sport. Typically, drivers must be at least 18 years old and have earned sufficient points from results in other racing series over the preceding three years to qualify.
However, a rule update introduced last year allows the governing body (FIA) to grant a super licence to a 17-year-old. This is possible if the driver has “recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition.”
Lindblad is currently competing in his first Formula 2 season, the primary stepping stone to F1, where he sits third in the standings and has claimed two victories. Earlier this year, he won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, a result that would have secured him the necessary points for a super licence upon reaching 18. He also finished fourth in his single F3 season in 2024.
He will celebrate his 18th birthday on August 8.
Red Bull reportedly submitted the exemption request several weeks prior. However, the application was only reviewed and approved by the FIA`s World Motor Sport Council during its recent meeting in Macau on Tuesday, which was the council`s first session since late February.
An FIA statement confirmed: “The FIA has received a request to grant a super licence to Arvid Lindblad prior to his 18th birthday.”
The statement added, “After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request.”
Granting the super licence early means the 17-year-old driver, who was born in Surrey and has Swedish and Indian heritage, is now eligible to participate in F1 sessions, should Red Bull (who operate two teams) decide to give him an opportunity.
Formula 1 regulations mandate that all teams must field an inexperienced driver in two Free Practice 1 sessions per car during the season. Red Bull previously used Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa for a P1 session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.
Although Red Bull`s super licence application for Lindblad was submitted before recent events and is not directly linked, the approval comes as senior team driver Max Verstappen is on the verge of a race ban. Following a collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, the world champion is now just one penalty point away from receiving a ban.
Verstappen needs to avoid incurring any additional penalty points in the upcoming two races – the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend and the Austrian GP on June 29 – to prevent a race ban. Two points are set to be removed from his licence on June 30, which would alleviate the immediate risk.
If the main Red Bull team required a stand-in driver for Verstappen for a race, it is highly probable that one of the two drivers from their sister team, Racing Bulls (Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson), would be called upon.
This scenario would, however, create a temporary opening at the junior team.
Ayumu Iwasa, aged 23, represents a more experienced back-up choice for Red Bull, having previously participated in Friday practice sessions for both teams. With the super licence, Lindblad is now formally another alternative option.
