Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised the job junior driver Arvid Lindblad did in his practice showing in Mexico City, acknowledging \u201che has impressed us\u201d within the team.<\/p>\n
The teenager is being linked with a step up to Formula 1 next season, most likely with Red Bull sister outfit Racing Bulls, having performed well on his rise up the ladder so far.<\/p>\n
Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad \u2018didn\u2019t put a foot wrong\u2019 in latest F1 outing<\/p>\n
The Briton received a rare Super Licence exemption from the FIA ahead of the British Grand Prix in July, allowing the Red Bull<\/a> junior to take part in his first FP1 session a month before his 18th birthday.<\/p>\n Lindblad was back behind the wheel of a Red Bull in Mexico City, taking on Max Verstappen\u2019s cockpit for the first practice hour as he gained valuable Formula 1 experience.<\/p>\n With two race wins and two further podiums in Formula 2 this season, the teenager has been touted as a potential Formula 1 driver next season, with three seats within the Red Bull stable as yet uncontracted for 2026.<\/p>\n Given the pressure of a Formula 1 practice session compared to private testing, the Red Bull team principal spoke highly of how Lindblad handled himself, and confirmed further running for him later this season in the meantime.<\/p>\n A closer look at Formula 1<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Revealed: Nine races that have shaped the F1 2025 title battle so far<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think he did a great job,\u201d Mekies told PlanetF1.com and others of Lindblad\u2019s session.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so difficult to step up in FP1, so difficult. It\u2019s very different to test days, you don\u2019t have many tyres, you don\u2019t have many laps, and he did just very, very good jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have seen all the timesheets by yourself, but he was very calm, gave all the right feedback, didn\u2019t put a foot wrong, didn\u2019t break the car. So honestly, he has impressed us in that FP1, no question about that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward for the next time in the car, towards the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n Lindblad still has two rounds remaining in Formula 2 this season, on the F1 support schedule in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, currently sitting seventh in a closely-contested championship.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n When it comes to what is happening next season, however, Mekies would not be drawn on a timeline, though has previously acknowledged futures would be decided before the end of the year.<\/p>\n With several candidates in the frame for seats, not least the drivers currently occupying their drives, Mekies is taking his time over what comes next.<\/p>\n \u201cThe decision, as we said, as much as we accept that everyone would like us to decide this, we are not in a rush,\u201d said the Red Bull team principal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take all the time we need, [and] give these guys as many chances as they can have to demonstrate on track who are the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Elizabeth Blackstock<\/p>\n