Lindblad clear: 'Not the next Max Verstappen, but the first Arvid'

Aspiring F1 driver, Arvid Lindblad, due to his superlative talent and being a Red Bull talent himself, is often referred to as "the next Max Verstappen." How does he address the comparison? The F2 driver answers precisely that to GPblog.

The question put forward to Lindblad by GPblog at first catches him off guard. After a few moments of careful thinking and attemps to answer he concedes. "It's a good question."

How important is it then, to establish one's own identity in the face of such ambitous goals as Lindblad has for himself in the world of motorsports? "To be honest, I don't really think about it. I don't really look too much at the news or anything. I just focus on driving."

Aspiring F1 driver Lindblad, the next Max Verstappen?

Max Verstappen has managed to etch his name into the annals of history since he started his career in F1 in 2015, and is currently dubbed by many F1 experts and fans alike as the best driver on the grid. Big shoes to fill, indeed. But, Lindblad is not at all concerned with that and looks to establish his own identity, apart from Verstappen's.

"I want to be the first Arvid Lindblad," says the Red Bull talent, who knows exactly how to put the constant comparisons between him and the reigning F1 champion to bed.

"Just focus on driving fast and doing my best and trying to perform always at a high level. And I think then the rest will take care of itself."

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Lindblad ready for call up to F1?

Given the progression he's shown across the junior categories, and now being in F2, the logical next step for Lindblad is going to F1. Is he ready to receive Dr. Helmut Marko's call notifying him he's making his F1 debut? Lindblad's raw sincerity and confidence once again shines through.

"I don't know if I'm ready. I guess we'll find out," says the Red Bull talent at first. The road so far has been a tale of sacrifice and arduous work all with one goal in mind: to be a Formula One world champion.

"Well, I hope that I get the opportunity one day. That's kind of, obviously, the purpose of the junior program to all the Formula One teams, to promote their young drivers through."

"I don't know if I'm ready. I've just done two races in F2, so I'm not really thinking about anything beyond at the moment." The young star doesn't get ahead of himself, and knows that a promotion to F1 will only come if he shows what he's made of in F2.

"[I'm] just focused on trying to perform well in F2 and be competitive because that's what's gonna give me a much better chance of hopefully getting that call one day."

When could Lindblad get the call up to F1?

With the way things have been going for Red Bull Racing in F1, in terms of drivers, and how Lindblad has faired so far in F2, showing great adaptability, staying out of trouble and getting into the points consistently, despite making the odd -costly- mistake in qualifying and starting further back than he'd like to, to think of a potential promotion for the Red Bull talent is by no means out of the question.

Liam Lawson, after being unable to come to grips with his Red Bull Racing car was demoted to Racing Bulls, propelling former teammate Yuki Tsunoda to the seat next to Max Verstappen, where, in Bahrain, he was able to put Red Bull's second car in Q3 for the first time this season, capitalising on his Saturday result with his first points for the Austrian team the very next day with a P9 in the race.

Although there are no indications that Lawson may be at risk of losing his seat at Racing Bulls as well, the Kiwi driver is currently losing the battle against teammate, F1 rookie Isack Hadjar. With Red Bull's history of being quick to reshuffle their driver lineups, perhaps Dr. Marko's call could come Lindblad's way sooner rather than later.