Arvid Lindblad reveals F1 dream still feels surreal after impressive rookie start

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Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad has said that it has still not sunk in that he is racing in Formula 1.

The 18-year-old driver secured a full-time F1 seat with Red Bull's sister squad after just one season in Formula 2, finishing sixth in the standings on 134 points with three race wins.

Lindblad started competitive karting in 2015 before moving up to Formula 4 in 2022. After two seasons, the first with Van Amersfoort Racing and the second with Hitech Grand Prix, the Briton moved to Formula 3 with Prema Racing in 2024.

"I don't think it's fully sunk in," he explained during an interview with BBC Newsbeat. "This is something I've been working towards my whole life. So the fact it's come true is extremely special, extremely cool."

The young driver visited Delhi ahead of the season start. While he races under the British flag, his mother is British Indian. This background makes the idea of racing in India a "really cool" proposition.

"I race under the British flag so having one home race is pretty cool, if there were to be a second one that'd be really special as well," he added. "I don't know the ins and outs of it, or how realistic it is, but it would mean a lot to me."

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

The Racing Bulls driver has already impressed in the opening four rounds of his debut F1 season.