While Liam Lawson is the latest Formula One driver to have competed in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, the next driver likely to take to the F1 grid in 2026, Arvid Lindblad, will be racing in New Zealand this summer.
It is reported that Lindblad is a late addition to the Toyota FR series and that Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing Chief Advisor, instigated his entry as he requires more Super Licence points in order to take part in Free Practice 1 (FP1) with the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team.
While Marko has not said so, it is likely that Lindblad is being groomed to take over current Honda-backed Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda in 2026 when the team switches to Ford engines. Hence the need for Super Licence points from the Toyota Formula Regional series.
Ironically Tsunoda also took the journey to New Zealand competing in the 2020 championship. He finished fourth overall in what could be described as a lackluster series and then went on to finish third in the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship. He made his F1 debut in 2021 with Scuderia Alpha Tauri Honda.
Lindblad is a British driver who won several national and continental kartsport titles under the tutelage of Oliver Rowland before moving up to single seaters. Two seasons in the Italian Formula Four Championship (2022 and 2023) included victory in the 2023 Macau Grand Prix.
2024 saw him finish fourth overall in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema while 2025 sees him move to Campos Racing for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Now he needs Super Licence points to take part in FP1 sessions over the 2025 season..
To take part in FP1 at a Formula One Grand Prix, a driver has to either have completed six races in Formula 2 or have 25 Super Licence points in eligible championships during the previous three years.
With finishing fourth in the 2024 FIA F3 Championship, Lindblad would have gained 15 points and there is a maximum of 18-points on offer from the Toyota FR Oceania Championship.
It all adds to the history of international drivers coming to New Zealand as part of their journey to the top. This summer we will again be in the unique position of witnessing part of another Formula One driver’s journey.
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