Arvid Lindblad crashed into the wall during the filming day organized by Red Bull Racing at Imola to test the 2026 car.
His promotion to Formula 1 has sparked discussion due to the limited experience he has accumulated in lower categories. Despite this, Lindblad is considered one of the most promising talents of his generation, so much so that Helmut Marko decided to give him a chance at Red Bull Racing, hoping to uncover a new Max Verstappen. The British-Swedish driver will make his debut in just a few weeks alongside Liam Lawson, who secured a contract renewal despite a 2025 season of highs and lows.
Nightmare debut for Lindblad
Before participating in an official session with the newly unveiled VCARB03 in Detroit, the two Faenza-based team drivers took to the track at Imola for the traditional early-year filming day. Lawson started the day in the morning, getting familiar with the new generation of cars.
In the afternoon, it was Arvid Lindblad’s turn to take his first laps as an official driver, but the debut did not go smoothly. Footage captured by attendees shows the Red Bull car being lifted by the Imola circuit tow truck after the young talent spun off at the Variante Villeneuve.
The incident was likely influenced by less-than-ideal weather conditions. Rain intensified during that period, making the car more difficult to control. For Lindblad, it is an error to be quickly forgotten in order to avoid casting doubt on his Formula 1 potential.
However, according to reports from F1inGenerale, team principal Alan Permane was not particularly pleased with the incident. The Red Bull Racing chief appears concerned about Lindblad’s inexperience. In a season where every session is crucial for data collection, this is not a detail to be underestimated.
Lindblad spun today and the car had to be recovered pic.twitter.com/HM1E4004sX
— Holiness (@F1BigData) January 20, 2026
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