Arvid Lindblad to Make Grand Prix Weekend Debut at Silverstone
Red Bull Racing has confirmed that 17-year-old driver Arvid Lindblad will participate in Friday practice at the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, scheduled for July 4-6. Lindblad, currently driving for Campos in Formula 2, recently secured his FIA Superlicence and successfully completed a test drive in the team’s 2023 AT04 car at Imola.
Lindblad split testing duties with fellow junior driver Ayumu Iwasa, the session taking place earlier this week as part of Red Bull’s preparations to bolster its reserve lineup. Previously, Iwasa was the sole reserve driver, but the team is proactively addressing potential driver changes. “We are preparing ourselves in case something happens with Max Verstappen regarding his penalty points,” said Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, noting the world champion is currently just one point away from a race ban.
Marko emphasized Lindblad’s strong mental endurance and self-confidence as key attributes as he steps into the car: “He spent half a day in the car in Italy on Monday to prepare him, and he will also be in the car for Friday practice at Silverstone.”
With the ongoing complexities of driver commitments in various series, including Iwasa’s involvement in Super Formula, Red Bull is taking strategic measures to ensure competitive readiness. The team’s ability to field an adequately prepared reserve driver has involved intricate logistics, underscoring the challenge of finding drivers in peak condition for sudden race entries.
As the race weekend approaches, Lindblad’s performance in practice could set the stage for future opportunities within the Red Bull racing hierarchy.
