Lindblad calls Racing Bulls debut a 'dream' after eight Q3s and six straight points

Arvid Lindblad has described his debut Formula 1 campaign as a “dream” after a standout first half of the 2026 season with Racing Bulls, in which the 19-year-old reached Q3 eight times and strung together six consecutive points-scoring finishes between Monaco and Hungary.

Speaking at the summer break, Lindblad said the season had delivered more than he had dared to expect. “Definitely ‘and more,’” he told F1.com. “It feels like I’ve had many nice moments, even in such a short span of time. The team have been amazing, they’ve been really welcoming, and they’ve really helped me get up to speed. I’ve been living my dream this year. It’s something that I always dreamed would come true, so it’s been very fun, and very special.”

The Briton opened his account at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, qualifying in Q3 and finishing eighth — a result he singled out as the most emotionally significant moment of his year so far. “Melbourne has been the most special moment, just because that was the first one, and the way the weekend was. That was one where I got a bit emotional before the race,” he said.

Lindblad also reflected on the surreal experience of racing circuits he had previously only encountered on screen. Visits to Shanghai and Suzuka prompted what he described as a childlike sense of wonder. “I’ve played it so many times on the F1 games, and now I’m doing the real thing. It’s a lot tighter in real life than on the F1 game,” he admitted.

His home race at Silverstone provided another milestone. “I’ve watched that race so many times on the TV at home. I just remember being on the grid, being in it, and it was like, ‘Wow, this is really happening.’”

With the second half of the season still to come, Lindblad’s early performances have established him as one of the more compelling rookies to arrive in Formula 1 in recent years, combining consistent qualifying pace with the points-scoring reliability that teams demand.