Arvid Lindblad eyes potential rally transition following immersive WRC experience at Goodwood

Arvid Lindblad has expressed interest in potentially transitioning to rallying once his Formula 1 career concludes, following an insightful experience with World Rally Championship machinery at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Racing Bulls F1 rookie took the helm of an M-Sport-Ford Puma Rally1, navigating the 1.9-mile forest gravel stage designed by the late 1983 world rally champion Hannu Mikkola. The technical course presented a significant departure from the smooth circuits typically encountered in single-seaters.

Before taking the wheel, the 18-year-old sat in the co-driver’s seat for a reconnaissance run alongside M-Sport-Ford WRC veteran Jon Armstrong. The experience provided Lindblad with a profound new respect for the discipline, leading him to admit that rally is a career path he may pursue after his time in F1.

“It was amazing, so thanks to Jon and the guys here for the opportunity, especially as it was my first time attempting anything like this,” Lindblad remarked during the Goodwood Festival of Speed live stream.

“We drive quite fast in Formula 1, and while I wouldn’t say I was scared, I was definitely outside of my comfort zone and quite taken aback. It was an incredible experience; it is so different from what we are used to, and it gave me a real appreciation for these drivers. It was so much fun.

“Rallying is something I have been learning more about, and I have grown very fond of it recently. It is something I would like to potentially pursue one day once I have completed my current endeavors.

“After having my first taste of it, I have a much deeper appreciation for what these drivers achieve because the cameras and onboard footage don’t fully capture it. It is incredibly fast, you are so close to the trees, and the skill required is truly impressive.”

Jon Armstrong, currently competing in his first season in the WRC’s premier class, also enjoyed sharing his Puma with the F1 rookie.

“I really enjoyed taking him for a spin and it was great to see how much he enjoyed the experience from a driving perspective,” Armstrong noted.

“What he is achieving in F1 is incredible. F1 drivers face immense pressure as they arrive and must prove themselves immediately. It is not easy; you have to compete against vast amounts of experience, and your performance is often tied to the specific car you are given. You have to punch above your weight, and I think he has been doing exactly that.”

Armstrong returns to competition this week as the WRC heads to Estonia for the first fast gravel rally of the season.

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