British driver Arvid Lindblad, competing in New Zealand in 2025. Photo: Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz
Analysis - There is no need for fans of New Zealand driver Liam Lawson to hit the panic button just yet following the news that Red Bull have brought another driver into their F1 stable.
Formula One's governing body has granted Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad a super licence ahead of his 18th birthday in August after the team requested a dispensation.
Formula One rules say drivers must be over 18, a measure introduced after Red Bull's now four-times world champion Max Verstappen was signed by Toro Rosso at 16 and made his race debut at 17 in 2015.
Lindblad, who won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand last summer, is seen as a hot prospect and the exemption will allow him to take part in F1 practice ahead of the August break.
The main reason Red Bull is keen to boost their driver ranks is because Verstappen is closing in on a suspension.
Drivers are allowed to pick up 12 points in a 12-month period, with an automatic one-race ban being triggered once 12 points are met.
Verstappen is on 11 points with another two Grands Prix to go before points are eligible to drop off.
In the last year the Dutchman has picked up penalty points for causing collisions (three times), forcing another driver off the track and other various driving infringements.
Lawson is next on the list with five points.
Yuki Tsunoda is the other Red Bull driver, while Isack Hadjar and Lawson are the drivers for Red Bull junior team Racing Bulls.
Ayumu Iwasa is the current Racing Bulls reserve driver.
If Verstappen was to be suspended it is likely that Lawson or Hadjar would step up to Red Bull with Iwasa taking the Racing Bulls seat.
Lindblad, who has been a Red Bull junior driver since 2021, is currently competing in his debut Formula 2 season and sits third in the Drivers' Championship, having achieved two race victories and one pole position so far.
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
However the way Red Bull act there is every chance that Lindblad could be put straight into a seat to fill the gap.
While Lawson shouldn't be concerned, it is a reminder that there are a number of talented young drivers ready to make the step up.
The 23-year-old Kiwi was relegated from Red Bull after just two GP's at the start of the season and in the seven rounds since has managed just four points from his eighth place in Monaco.
Kimi Antonelli, 18, has been a hit for Mercedes in his first year in F1, he sits seventh in the driver standings with 48 points. However he has cooled off in recent weeks, failing to pick up points at Emilia-Romagna, Monaco and Spain.
Cadillac joins the F1 ranks in 2026 meaning two more seats have to be filled.
There are a number of top drivers without seats in 2025 including Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Daniel Ricciardo while there are also a number of reserve drivers waiting to get promoted.
