Lindblad says Lawson bond is aiding Racing Bulls

Arvid Lindblad said he and Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson have "gelled quite well" from the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with their long-standing relationship helping the team give clearer, more unified feedback as it adapts to the new regulations.

Lindblad is the only rookie on this year’s grid, but he has settled quickly. He scored points on his debut with eighth place in Australia and sits 11th in the drivers’ standings after the first three rounds, an early return that has strengthened Racing Bulls’ confidence in its all-new line-up.

The pair were not starting from scratch. Both came through the Red Bull Junior Programme, and that familiarity has shaped the atmosphere inside the garage from the outset. Speaking to Motorsport.com and other select media, Lawson joked: "A lot's happened since the days of Karun Chandhok going 1v1 with Arvid Lindblad in a rental go-kart around Whilton Mill. I don't think we'll ever let Arvid live that day down!"

Behind the joke was a more important point for Racing Bulls. With F1 entering a major rules reset for 2026, Lawson said the team needs both drivers aligned in the way they communicate what the car is doing and what it needs next.

"A lot is on us, working together, trying to communicate well and deliver what we need to the team to build on these regulations," Lawson said. He added that the transition had been "pretty seamless and smooth" and praised Lindblad for the way he had handled his first season in F1.

Lindblad said the relationship has felt natural from his side too. "We've known each other since the early days in the programme," he said. "I've enjoyed sharing the garage with Liam. I think we've gelled quite well together and also helped to push the team forward."

That matters more in 2026 than it might have done at the end of the previous rules cycle. Lindblad said the scale of technical change has increased the rate of development across the field, making it more important for a team to avoid mixed messages from its drivers.

"With such a big regulation change, there is so much, the rate of development for the teams is massive," Lindblad said. "I think just having a unified opinion and being able to discuss things and really give that clear feedback to the team has been positive."

For Racing Bulls, that is the real significance of its new pairing’s early chemistry. Lindblad’s fast start has given weight to Lawson’s view that the rookie has "done a good job" straight away, and it has given the Faenza team a stable platform to develop its car through the first phase of F1’s new era.