Red Bull Submits Special Request for Young Driver
As Formula 1 fans focus on a possible race ban for Max Verstappen, Red Bull is quietly pushing to secure another future star. The team has submitted a request to the FIA for an early Super Licence exemption for their 17-year-old junior driver, Arvid Lindblad. By awarding this exception, Red Bull would be able to use Lindblad in practice or even in a race before he turns 18 on August 8th, 2025. This application comes in the context of Verstappen sitting precariously at 11 penalty points, just one point away from a one-race ban under FIA rules, which would significantly affect Red Bull’s plans for Canada or Austria. The matter is now scheduled for discussion during the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau next week. Under the FIA’s International Sporting Code, a driver must be 18 to receive a full Super Licence, but an exemption clause exists. Article 13.1.2 allows drivers who have “recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity” to receive a licence early. Lindblad already meets the minimum points requirement, having earned around 45 points across Formula Regional Oceania, FIA Formula 3, and F4. More impressively, he has claimed two race wins this year in FIA F2 and currently sits third in the championship as a rookie. Red Bull points to his strong track record, including a recent 300 km test in an F1 car at Imola, as justification.
Although the Super Licence application preceded any threat of Verstappen’s ban, the timing is important. With Verstappen on 11 penalty points, Red Bull needs a formally licensed reserve ready to step in if he is suspended. Lindblad’s rapid rise adds strategic options for the team. If approved, Lindblad could be deployed during a race weekend if Verstappen is sidelined, whether in free practice, qualifying, or even the race itself. FIA officials will review the application at the Macau meeting, alongside numerous other matters related to the sport’s future. If Lindblad is granted the exemption, it would mirror the precedent set by Mercedes for Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2024. Lindblad’s eligibility will not be an issue come August, as he turns 18 just after the Hungarian Grand Prix during the F1 summer break. Still, gaining that flexibility now could make him a valuable asset if Verstappen serves a race ban.
This move shows how Red Bull is preparing for all scenarios while investing in its junior program. They’ve already ensured Lindblad has F1 experience and the track record to suggest he’s ready. Yet the team’s official stance emphasizes that the application is about planning ahead, not assuming Verstappen will miss a race. Still, with only one penalty point needed to sideline Verstappen, the urgency is clear. The FIA’s decision in Macau could shift Red Bull’s driver strategy in the short term. If Lindblad gets the Super Licence, he becomes the most promising young driver still eligible for early promotion. It would give Red Bull another ready-made substitute for Verstappen, even before he’s formally eligible by age. In that case, Lindblad might find himself on the Formula 1 grid sooner than expected, jump-starting his career on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
