NEW DELHI: When Arvid Lindblad sat in his Racing Bulls car at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, there was already buzz about a young driver with Indian roots making his debut alongside stars like Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. But once the chequered flag came down, all eyes were on the 18-year-old, who went on to score points for his team on debut.Lindblad finished eighth and picked up four points for Racing Bulls. Jumping out of his car, celebrating with a roar, and soaking in the moment, his emotions were evident after an impressive debut.Recently, Lindblad took time off to explore India as he tried Mumbai’s street food, visited popular spots, interacted with locals, and even stopped by Mannat. The 18-year-old spoke to TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview about his Formula One journey so far, his connection with India, and much more.Excerpts:You scored points in your very first race. It must have been an emotional moment – can you take us back to that memory?Yeah, it was very special – very emotional. It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life, making it to Formula One. To finally have that moment in Australia, with both my parents there, made it even more meaningful. The whole weekend went so smoothly – getting into Q3, scoring points, and even running in the top three at one stage on the opening lap was pretty surreal. I absolutely loved every bit of it. It’s a day I’ll remember forever.What was it like lining up against drivers you grew up watching as icons of the sport? How did it feel racing alongside them?Yeah, it was pretty surreal. Racing alongside guys like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton – and even Max Verstappen, who really rose through the sport around the time I started following it – was incredibly special. These are drivers I’ve watched for years on TV, so to be out there racing wheel-to-wheel with them is hard to put into words. I’d say Lewis was the one I was probably most starstruck by at the beginning, and even now there are still plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments. Even in Japan, during the drivers’ parade, it felt pretty special just being there alongside him. But once I’m on track, with the helmet on, it’s different – we’re all competitors, and I’m going to take every opportunity I can. Still, it’s amazing. I remember even last year during FP1 sessions, hearing on the radio, ‘Hamilton coming through’ when he was on a push lap – it’s pretty special just to hear that and to share the track with him.
It must have been a special moment for your family as well. What were those conversations like?Yeah, it really was special. This has always been my dream and my journey – something I’ve been working towards for as long as I can remember. But it’s not just mine, it’s something we’ve all sacrificed for as a family. My parents, even my brother – they’ve all played a part in this. So it truly felt like a family moment.That’s why having them there with me in Melbourne made it even more meaningful. It’s hard to describe, but I remember after the race, once I got out of the car and left the media pen, my parents were waiting for me in hospitality. The first thing I did was just hug them. It’s something we’ve dreamed about for years – especially me and my dad.For so long, it felt so far away. We were in the UK, racing on small tracks, waking up at 6 in the morning in the cold and rain. My dad was my mechanic, and we were doing everything ourselves. It didn’t always feel real that we’d get here one day. And then suddenly, it is real. It’s happening. That moment just hit us. We didn’t say much – we just hugged, got a bit emotional. I almost had tears in my eyes after the race. It was a very special feeling.You share a great bond with Max Verstappen. That viral video of him asking for your driving licence caught a lot of attention – what was that moment like?(Laughs) Yeah, it was pretty cool. I’ve known Max Verstappen for a while now, and he’s always been extremely friendly to me. I have a lot of respect for him – not just as a driver, because the level he performs at is incredible, but also as a person.He’s always been very kind, approachable, and willing to offer advice whenever I’ve needed it. What stands out is how humble and grounded he is – he hasn’t let the fame or spotlight change him, which is really great to see. In that sense, he’s definitely someone I look up to. I’ve been fortunate to spend time with him and build a good rapport.That viral moment was from a filming day a few months ago, when it came up that I didn’t have my driving licence yet. It was a funny situation, and something we could both relate to, having entered Formula One at a very young age. I think both of our journeys have been quite similar in that sense – we progressed quickly, came into F1 young, and have been part of the Red Bull setup. So it’s been really nice to share those experiences and moments with him.Three races into your career now – what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far?I think it’s been a massive change in Formula One this year with the new regulations – new engines, new cars, new tyres – so there’s been a lot to learn and get up to speed with. For me, the biggest challenge right now is managing everything. I already had a sense of it from last year, through TPC running and FP1 sessions, that in F1 you have a lot more influence over the car.There are many more tools available and a lot more you can adapt compared to other categories. In junior series, it’s pretty much just you and the car – you can’t change much. But in F1, there’s a lot more performance to unlock, and this year even more so, especially on the power unit side. The way you drive – your inputs – can affect how and when you get the power, and how it’s delivered.So there are a lot more variables you can control, and the key is to use them in the right way at the right time. Managing all of that, especially during a race when so much is happening, hasn’t been easy. It’s something all drivers are adapting to because it’s quite different, but as a rookie, I feel there’s even more performance for me to unlock compared to the others.
You’ve often spoken about Oliver Rowland. What role has he played in your journey?Yeah, Oli has been a massive help for me – someone I’ve known for a very long time. I first met him when I was seven, and we actually started karting together. He supported me a lot when I was racing in Europe – coming to races, staying in touch, and guiding me along the way. In Formula 3 and Formula 2, he became even more involved.He attended many races and played a big role in my development. His connection with Red Bull has also been a key factor in helping me progress quickly through the ranks and reach Formula One. It’s actually quite hard to describe his role because it’s a bit of everything. He’s a mentor, but also feels like family given how long we’ve known each other.He helps me across all aspects of being a driver. As you know, the role today isn’t just about driving. He works with me on performance, gives feedback on what I can improve, but also helps with things like preparing for race weekends, handling media, and managing everything that comes with the job. So it’s not just one thing – he’s been there to guide me in every aspect of my journey.If you hadn’t pursued professional racing, what do you think you’d be doing today?I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve always loved sports and I’m quite a driven, competitive person. So I think I would have ended up pursuing some kind of sport. Maybe even cricket, who knows? But honestly, it’s hard to say – I started karting when I was five, so this path began very early for me. I’m pretty sure I would have been involved in sport in some way.”You have a unique heritage and a strong connection to India through your family. Has that influenced your identity or the way you approach your career? And what do you enjoy most about your visits to India?Yeah, I’m very proud of my Indian heritage. It’s been a big part of my upbringing and has really shaped me into the person and driver I am today. From a young age, I’ve been connected to it – celebrating traditions, doing puja with my grandparents, and enjoying my nanny’s Indian food. I still remember when she used to come to the racetrack when I was seven or eight, bringing home-cooked meals – we’d be having rajma chawal, chapatis, and channa at the back of the car.Those are really special memories, and they’ve kept me closely connected to my roots. It’s something I’ve spoken about more recently, but it’s always been important to me. The values – hard work, humility, always giving your best – have had a big influence on who I am today. I always enjoy coming to India. Like you mentioned, the puja we did together in Delhi before the show run, where she kind of wished me luck before my first race in Melbourne, was really special. It’s those little things that mean a lot. We share a very close bond, and I really value that connection.Can you tell us a bit about your journey with Red Bull – from the junior programme to now being on the F1 grid?Yeah, obviously, I’m very grateful to Red Bull for the support they’ve given me. I was signed to the programme when I was 13, at the end of 2020, and since then, things have come a long way – it’s been a really special journey. I still remember how it all started, meeting Helmut Marko (former Austrian F1 driver) in a hotel when he told me he wanted to sign me.I was incredibly excited, especially knowing he had backed drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, who went on to achieve great things. For him to show that kind of belief in me meant a lot. Since then, both Helmut and ‘Rocky’ have played huge roles in my development. Rocky, especially on the technical side, has been someone I’ve leaned on a lot. His experience, including working closely with Sebastian and winning world championships, has helped me learn and improve as a driver.With Helmut, I’ve always had a very honest relationship. We speak openly about what’s going well and what needs improvement, and that’s really helped me progress quickly. It’s thanks to them, and the entire Red Bull Junior Programme, that I’ve been able to rise through the ranks so fast and reach Formula One. I’ll always be extremely grateful for that opportunity – especially to Helmut, who played a big part in me getting this chance. I wouldn’t be here without that support.How was your recent trip to Mumbai?I had a lot of fun visiting Mumbai – going to Mannat, spending time at the beaches, interacting with kids, and playing cricket with them at the maidans where Sachin Tendulkar started his career. It was a really enjoyable experience. It was my second visit to India – we had come in December 2025 as well – but this was my first time in Mumbai, and I absolutely loved it. It was great to learn more about Indian culture and explore the city.We did a mix of touristy things and fun activities. We visited Mannat, went to the Gateway of India, and explored a lot around the city. I even tried vada pav for the first time, which was amazing. Overall, it was a fantastic trip – we did so many things and really got the full experience. I loved every bit of it and I’m really looking forward to coming back later this year.You played cricket at the Mumbai maidans, where Sachin Tendulkar began his journey. What was that experience like?To be honest, I don’t know if I’m at a level where I can say I played proper shots – I was mostly just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could. But it was great fun. The kids were incredibly friendly. When we were playing at the maidans, there were people of all ages – adults in their 20s and 30s, even older, and young kids around six or seven.
Everyone was very welcoming and happy to let me join in. I got a chance to stand in front of the wickets, do some batting, and just enjoy the moment. It was a really fun experience playing with everyone.You also visited Mannat, home to Shah Rukh Khan. How was that visit?I mean, obviously, Shah Rukh Khan is a massive Bollywood star – more like a legend, to be honest. I can’t quite remember the name of the film now, but I do recall a scene we tried to recreate when I was in Delhi a couple of months ago.We did a fun social concept where we were sort of copying that iconic moment when he comes home and meets his mother. I did the walk-up, and then we had that warm embrace and hug. I don’t remember the exact dialogue, but the scene itself is really famous, and it was great fun trying to recreate it.
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