Max Verstappen's replacement given green light by FIA with Red Bull plan now in place
The latest phase of Red Bull's plan is clicking into gear.
Arvid Lindblad, seen as the future successor to Max Verstappen at Red Bull, has been granted special permission to receive an FIA super license. This means he is eligible to compete in free practice sessions and Grand Prix weekends with immediate effect. Under the recently revised FIA regulations, the 17-year-old Lindblad was unable to take part in an F1 race weekend. After Max Verstappen’s meteoric rise to the grid, the sport’s governing body required drivers to be 18 years or older to step behind the wheel in the pinnacle of European open-wheel racing.
Special dispensation can be made upon request for exceptional circumstances, though. Kimi Antonelli was subject to one such appeal in 2024, and Lindblad has become the second teenage driver to receive his license ahead of time following action from Red Bull.
“The FIA has received a request to grant a Super Licence to Arvid Lindblad prior to his 18th birthday,” the FIA stated.
“After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request.”
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This will be a major boost for both Lindblad and Red Bull. The Surrey-born teenager has scored two victories in his rookie Formula Two campaign, and currently has a 100 per cent record for top-10 finishes after 11 races. With such a rapid rate of progression, it is no wonder that he is catching the eye of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
With an FIA super license in his back pocket, Lindblad is now nailed on for a couple of free practice appearances before the end of the season. The Brit could even appear in a Grand Prix in 2025 driving for Racing Bulls if either Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson are needed to replace a suspended Verstappen this month.
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According to former FIA steward Johnny Herbert, the Brit could even prove to be better than Verstappen in time. “I know Helmut Marko has a lot of respect for Lindblad,” he told YaySweepstakes. “I met him when he was 14, when he was karting. He's got a very good outlook and mindset on what he wants to do and about getting into F1.”
Herbert added: “He's a perfect candidate to replace Tsunoda if he continues to struggle. Is there someone out there who could be better than Verstappen? Yes. Could it be Lindblad? Sure, but the real comes once you are in a seat with Max when he is on the other side of the garage.”
