Red Bull junior, Arvid Lindblad, denies being in talks with the team to potentially replace Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix despite recently getting a Formula 1 superlicense exemption.
After his clash with George Russell in Barcelona, the Dutchman is just one penalty point away from accumulating a race ban.
Verstappen and Red Bull’s predicament was a talking point throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. That said, the 27-year-old stayed away from controversy, and lives to fight another day.
The FIA mandates a single race ban in the event that a driver accrues 12 points on their license over a 12-month period.
Therefore, if the four-time World Champion has a clean race weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, the two points added to his license for his incident with Lando Norris last year will be lifted, giving him some breathing space.
However, if he does incur a penalty at the Red Bull Ring, the Milton Keynes-based team will need to look for a replacement driver to take his place at the British Grand Prix.
17-year-old Red Bull prodigy Lindblad is a firm candidate to fill in for the Dutchman, having recently received his superlicense from the FIA, but he asserts that his superlicense is a mere “coincidence” and not part of Red Bull’s plans to accommodate for a potential race ban for Verstappen.
“I mean, the Super Licence was requested in February. So I think it’s much more of a coincidence that it’s kind of been approved at a time when Max is a bit on the edge with the points,” he said.
“But I don’t know what the plan would be if something were to happen.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been involved in those conversations.”
Lindblad flattered by Verstappen comparisons
The 17-year-old will most likely be drafted into one of the Racing Bulls seat with either Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar getting the call up to race alongside Yuki Tsunoda in case Verstappen is ruled out in Silverstone.
This would turn out to be a handy audition for Lindblad who is being suggested to have a full-time seat with the Faenza-based squad from next year onwards after impressing Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko with his exploits in the junior formulas.
The Austrian might have forsaken the search for a new-age Verstappen but is confident that Lindblad is going to be Red Bull’s next big star and world champion.
But what does the 17-year-old himself think about these comparisons?
“I don’t know, I mean, it’s hard to really compare me. I’m still a lot younger than Max,” he explained.
“It’s nice to get a comparison to a four-time World Champion, but I think it’s hard to really compare us.
“I’m just very focused on doing my best, driving fast and fighting hard. And maybe on that side you could say that there’s some similarities, but I think all drivers are like that.”
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