Next week, the FIA is reportedly set to consider an exemption to the super license rules for Red Bull’s rising star, Arvid Lindblad. The 17-year-old British-Swedish driver has already accumulated enough points for a super license, but is currently too young to compete in Formula 1. Red Bull is now hoping to utilize a clause introduced last year that allows ‘extraordinary talents’ to participate in the premier class at an earlier age.
Arvid Lindblad is viewed by Red Bull as the next big talent, and the Austrian racing team is therefore eager to pave his way to Formula 1. The British-Swedish driver currently competes in Formula 2, where he won his first race in the feeder series at the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Thanks to his success in Formula 3, including four victories, the young driver has already amassed enough points for his super license. However, at seventeen, Lindblad is still too young to compete in the premier class.
The rule that drivers must be eighteen or older to compete in Formula 1 was established thanks to Red Bull’s fellow talent, Max Verstappen. The Dutchman raced for Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, at the age of 17. Following Verstappen’s debut, the FIA raised the minimum age to eighteen.
Antonelli’s Exception
Last year, the FIA added a new clause to the International Sporting Code, allowing ‘extraordinary talents’ to obtain a super license earlier. Mercedes immediately took advantage of this clause for their rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, enabling the Italian to secure a super license before his eighteenth birthday. However, Antonelli made his F1 debut at the age of 18 after his birthday on August 25, during the Grand Prix weekend in Monza.
According to the usually well-informed The Race, Red Bull submitted a request for exemption from the super license rules for Lindblad some time ago. The Austrians would like to use the British-Swedish driver as a reserve driver. “Lindblad has the points for the super license,” advisor Helmut Marko previously told Auto, Motor und Sport. “We also did a 300-kilometer test with him in a Formula 1 car at Imola, so he could theoretically step in. But he still has to turn eighteen. That’s why we are currently asking the FIA for an exemption for the super license. Antonelli also got one, and we see no reason why the same should not apply to Lindblad.”
If Lindblad indeed receives his super license next week, he will become one of the candidates to replace Max Verstappen, should the world champion receive another penalty point and a suspension.
