Arvid Lindblad: Toyota FR Oceania "a luxury" ahead of F2 campaign
The British 17-year-old has put on a show of dominance in the short four weeks of the Toyota series so far this year.
You would be forgiven for thinking Arvid Lindblad is a much more experienced driver, given his dominance so far this year in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania series.
The British driver only made his debut in car racing just over two years ago, joining the Italian Formula 4 series mid-year in 2022. It's something that he reminds me of when we discuss his experience.
"Being completely honest with you, I'm not that experienced," he clarifies, before listing the series he has rocketed through.
"Obviously, I have driven quite a few cars, but I've only been in single-seaters for two years."
He had just turned fifteen when he made that open-wheel debut, the youngest member of the Red Bull Junior Team after joining in his karting days. Lindblad's teens came with the 2020 WSK Super Master Series title in OKJ karts before taking out the WSK Euro Series and WSK Final Cup for OK karts.
Into Italian F4, arguably the pinnacle and definitely the most popular series on the bottom rung of the FIA "pyramid," where he was into the top ten by his second round.
"I did 2023 in F4, 2024 in F4, so part of being here is literally just track time."
It's early in Queenstown, with meetings and activities scheduled throughout the day, and Lindblad is reflecting on his year so far. Not that there is much to reflect on just three rounds in (four at the time of publishing), but the Brit is already having the kind of foundational season that has built the reputation of the former Toyota Racing Series as a proving ground for future talent. Like Liam Lawson, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Robert Shwartzman. The names that Toyota GAZOO Racing New Zealand likes to include on highlight reels and promotional materials.
