17 year old Red Bull prodigy Arvid Lindblad granted F1 superlicence exemption

The FIA has made a rare concession for Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad, granting him a Formula 1 superlicence before he turns 18 on August 8. This special exemption, requested by Red Bull, recognizes Lindblad's consistent success and impressive maturity in single-seater racing, despite typically requiring drivers to be 18 to hold the essential license.

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Macau, the FIA confirmed their decision, stating, "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."

Lindblad is currently making waves in the Formula 2 championship, sitting third in the standings after clinching his first feature race victory of the season in Spain recently. The British driver is reportedly being prepared to participate in Formula 1 free practice sessions before the August break. Crucially, this early superlicence also qualifies him to serve as a reserve driver for both the senior Red Bull team and its junior outfit, Racing Bulls.

One penalty point away...

This development could prove particularly significant for the Red Bull-owned teams, especially given that reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen is currently just one penalty point away from a potential single-race superlicence suspension. While Lindblad's superlicence application predates Verstappen's recent penalty points, his availability provides an alternative to current reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa, who is racing in Japan's Super Formula series.

Arvid Lindblad is widely regarded as a rapidly rising star within Red Bull's prestigious junior program and is considered a prime candidate for a driver seat with Racing Bulls in the 2026 season. Red Bull currently has a strong roster of four contracted F1 drivers, with Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda at the senior team, and Isack Hadjar alongside Liam Lawson driving for the junior team.