Arvid Lindblad became a member of the Racing Bulls Formula 1 squad in 2026 at the age of 18, though he has not yet passed his driving test.
Speaking to beIN Sports ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, the British driver provided an update on his progress toward obtaining his driver’s licence after completing his first lesson.
Lindblad says he feels ready to sit for the test after a single lesson, provided he remains vigilant about his blind spots.
“I don’t think I need any more lessons,” Lindblad said. “I can take the test now.”
The driving instructor, already aware of Lindblad’s identity and racing credentials, offered virtually no critique of his basic car control.
He told Lindblad to “continue checking blind spots, and everything else should be fine,” he said.
When asked whether driving a regular road car felt unusual, the young driver admitted that the required restraint felt unnatural to him.
“It was odd, the concept of speed limits,” he said with a smile. “Having to regulate the throttle so I couldn’t accelerate beyond a set speed felt strange, and I wasn’t fond of it. Driving at 30 mph can feel painfully slow, but safety first.”
Although Lindblad continues to work toward his licence, he has enjoyed an impressive start to his rookie F1 season. After nine rounds, he is positioned 11th in the drivers’ championship with 20 points, 19 behind his teammate Liam Lawson, who sits 10th.
He earned points on his debut with an eighth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, and his best results this season have been seventh-place finishes at both Monaco and the British Grand Prix.
The Racing Bulls driver now turns his focus to the Belgian Grand Prix, scheduled for 19 July at Spa‑Francorchamps.