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Arvid Lindblad will replace Max Verstappen in FP1 at the Mexican Grand Prix next weekend, making his second practice appearance of the campaign after his debut outing in F1 machinery at Silverstone earlier this year.
Lindblad, 18, is being touted for a quickfire promotion to F1 with Racing Bulls next year off the back of an impressive but inconsistent rookie Formula Two campaign. With two race weekends remaining in his season, the teenager sits seventh in the standings with two victories to his name, but also eight pointless results in his last 12 outings.
Nevertheless, Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies see promise in the Surrey-born starlet, and he is reported to be in pole position to replace Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, should the rookie be called up to become Max Verstappen’s team-mate at Red Bull in 2026.
Now, Lindblad will get another chance to impress, driving the RB21 in place of Verstappen at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez next weekend. The Dutchman will travel to Mexico City looking to score his fourth win in five races after reigniting the title fight in Austin on Sunday.
Meanwhile, for Lindblad, a decision about his future is close. Marko has confirmed that the race in Mexico City will be the last one considered before Red Bull make decisions about the futures of Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.
For Red Bull, much of their decision centres around what to do with Tsunoda. With the RB21’s return to prominence have come stronger results for the Japanese driver, who has scored points in three of the last five Grands Prix.
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However, with Verstappen now in title contention and a regular attendee of podium ceremonies, those results look less flattering. Another season with Red Bull seems out of the question, but Racing Bulls could still use the 25-year-old as an anchor from which to measure Lindblad’s results.
Tsunoda’s seventh-place finish in Austin was a commendable performance, but he left rival Oliver Bearman furious with an aggressive defence at Turn 15 midway through the race. “No [I won’t speak to him],” the Haas driver told Sky Sports F1. “I don’t think it’s the first time he’s done something like that, and it’s not going to be the last time.
“Clearly, with the way he’s driving. We saw it in quali yesterday, complaining. He’s trying really hard, and it’s not working. Twice in Turn One, he divebombed on Lap One, taking incredible risks. I don’t think it’s worth even trying to make him understand my view.”