F1 News: Marko defends promotion of 'mature' teen Lindblad

(GMM) Helmut Marko has explained why 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad (pictured) has been fast-tracked into a 2026 F1 seat despite a patchy mid-season in Formula 2.

The teenager ended the year with a sprint year in Abu Dhabi so far – and even drove Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull on Friday, finishing FP1 in P15 with 26 laps.

Lindblad, though, was blunt about his own performance.

“Speaking about the session itself, I wasn’t very happy with how it went for me,” he said. “I feel like I could have done a better job and it identified some issues that I need to work on for next year.

“Driving in both F1 and F2 this weekend was a new experience for me and required some balancing acts.”

He did not set the world on fire in F2, so is he fast enough for F1? Arvid Lindblad of Great Britain and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 04, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Nevertheless, Marko is understood to have pushed strongly for Lindblad to debut at Racing Bulls – ahead of the more experienced Tsunoda, who now shifts into a Red Bull reserve role.

“Red Bull is a team known for giving young drivers opportunities and developing them,” Marko told reporters. “At 18, he’s perfectly prepared for this.

“He’s placed high in every junior championship since his debut. Arvid is very mature. I’d say he’s a 25-year-old in an 18-year-old’s body.”