Arvid Lindblad suffered a minor crash at the Suzuka International Circuit, on Wednesday, during a Formula 1 tyre test for Pirelli.
2026’s only rookie, Lindblad has made a stellar start to his F1 career. Three rounds into the season, the Racing Bulls driver has scored four points, sitting 11th in the driver’s standings.
That said, not every thing seems to have gone smoothly for the Swedish-British driver at the Suzuka International Circuit, on Wednesday.
Fresh off the Japanese Grand Prix, Lindblad stayed back in Mie to complete a two-day tyre test for the sport’s official tyre supplier; Pirelli.
The weather, however, is far from the sunny skies the drivers’ welcomed on Sunday. Instead, rain has been pelting the tarmac – something that caused Lindblad to suffer his shunt.
Reports suggest Lindblad aquaplaned off at the second of the Degner Curves – taking the front-wing off of his VCARB 03.
Luckily, the crash was only minor – apparent from the photographs that have emerged – and Lindblad did rejoin the track in the later phases of the session to complete more laps.
Sortie de piste pour Arvid Lindblad dans le virage 9 de Suzuka qui a provoqué un drapeau rouge lors du test Pirelli. 🚩
— Le Sprint (@LeSprintEdition) April 1, 2026
Il y a des dégâts sur la monoplace.#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/W3QkFZq1dY
Arvid Lindblad reflects on F1 Japanese GP
The 53-lap race on Sunday was also a far-from-ideal affair for the 18-year-old.
Lindblad did impress during qualifying, with a Q3 appearance, but was slow to get off the line when the lights went out during the race.
The Safety Car, called out by Oliver Bearman’s massive 50G shunt, then completed ruined his strategy with Lindblad eventually taking the chequered flag in 14th.
Looking back on the race, the Red Bull junior driver thought it was a “shame” he couldn’t replicate his points scoring form from the season-opening Australian GP.
“I think I was running P8 after a lap or two and then I think there were a few things I could have managed better on the energy side and the battery side with Max [Verstappen] and Esteban [Ocon] on that first stint,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“So I lost those two place and then I was settling in to a nice rhythm before the stop, did the stop which was a bit slow, so I lost a place to Isack [Hadjar] and then the Safety Car came out and I lost another three or four [places].
“It’s a bit of a shame but I think regardless, there’s still a lot to learn, still a lot for me to improve on so I’m going to focus on that.”
Heading into the Miami GP, in five weeks’ time, Lindblad will have ample time to regroup with the Faenza-based squad to get back into the top 10.
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