Arvid Lindblad

The 18-year-old British-Swedish driver is the only rookie on the 2026 grid. A product of the Red Bull Junior Programme, Lindblad earned an FIA superlicence exemption earlier in 2025 amid speculation he might be promoted before the year was out, although the move ultimately waited until the regulation change.

Stepping up from F2, Lindblad arrives at a team that has historically served as Red Bull's proving ground, with the implicit understanding that strong performances put him in the conversation for a future senior seat. As the sole newcomer on the grid, he carries both the freedom and the pressure that come with being the rookie everyone watches.