Arvid Lindblad continues to impress during his first season in Formula 1. In qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, the 18-year-old was the fastest of all who don’t drive for the four major teams. Yet, something was bothering the talent immediately after the finish.
Arvid Lindblad is the name more and more Formula 1 fans have learned this spring. The 18-year-old Brit with Swedish roots is driving his debut season for Racing Bulls, the sister team to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, and has quickly become one of the year’s big positive surprises.
In Saturday’s qualifying at the classic Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, he achieved his best result of the season so far. Lindblad set the eighth fastest time, just over a tenth behind Oscar Piastri’s McLaren.
The fastest of all was Mercedes’ young star Kimi Antonelli, who took pole position with a time of 1:44.361. Since third-placed Lando Norris will be moved down the grid due to a penalty, Lindblad will start Sunday’s race in seventh.
– I’ve been driving really well all weekend. I’m very happy with the work that me and the team are doing, Lindblad said when he met the media, including CL Motorsport, after qualifying.
Hit the steering wheel after crossing the finish line
Despite the top result, frustration was visible in the TV images as Lindblad rolled across the finish line. He himself downplayed the reaction, but admitted he had hoped for even more.
– I didn’t hit the steering wheel, but I thought I could drive a 1:44 time. I was one and a half tenths off, so part of me thought it was possible.
– Then I probably dreamed a little too, because we’re not quite at the top teams’ level yet. But that’s where I want to get.
A slightly later braking in the last corner was the only thing he could point to in retrospect. At the same time, he noted that the gap to the cars behind, half a second to the nearest pursuer, shows how well the entire team performed in Belgium.
– There are a few things we could have handled better that might have been enough to catch Oscar today. But we have performed at a really high level all week, both the team as a whole and my side of the garage.
Arvid Lindblad received the team’s only upgraded car
Racing Bulls only had time to rebuild one of their two cars with the latest upgrade package before the weekend. Who would get it was decided in an unusual way: whoever qualified best at Silverstone last week won. Lindblad beat teammate Liam Lawson, and in Belgium the difference became clear. While Lindblad made it to eighth place, Lawson was eliminated in the second part of qualifying. Thanks to penalties for other drivers, the New Zealander will still start ninth, two spots behind Lindblad.
The weekend is also a test for Formula 1‘s new cars, which this year are powered halfway by electric power. Before the weekend, there was concern that the long straights at Spa would drain the batteries and make the cars slow, but Lindblad was positively surprised.
– It was different compared to last year, but I would still say it was very enjoyable. The track still felt fantastic to drive, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be at all.
According to Lindblad, the cars losing speed in the fast Blanchimont corner is not due to a lack of energy, but because the electric drive switches off there.
– It would have been cool to have full power all the way to the last chicane. Liam and I joked about it, I would have loved it.
Arvid Lindblad’s view on the race
In Sunday’s race, Lindblad will start ahead of several significantly faster cars, including Norris’ McLaren. This could make him vulnerable, but the 18-year-old hopes to be able to keep up with the leading group.
– Hopefully, we can pull away a bit with the top group. With this track’s layout, there’s not much you can do with the energy, the system mostly takes care of itself. But if you do get a chance to overtake, it’s powerful.
Starting grid: Belgian GP
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine
- Nico Hülkenberg, Audi
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Carlos Sainz, Williams
- Ollie Bearman, Haas
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Esteban Ocon, Haas
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
The race starts Sunday at 3:00 PM.
