Laurent Mekies Believes Arvid Lindblad’s FP1 Performance in Mexico Impressed Red Bull Senior Management
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s team principal, has praised rookie Arvid Lindblad for his strong performance during the FP1 session at the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Speaking to the media, including Sportskeeda, Mekies highlighted that Lindblad executed his duties smoothly and without any mistakes.
Lindblad was the fastest among the ten rookie drivers participating in the session. He outpaced Yuki Tsunoda and finished just two-tenths of a second behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Both Mekies and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko were notably impressed with Lindblad’s composed and consistent driving.
The 18-year-old had last driven the RB21 during the Silverstone GP weekend and described his development year as challenging in an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda following his Mexico outing.
### Limited Experience, Impressive Pace
Mekies emphasized that despite Lindblad’s limited experience and the inherent restrictions of FP1 sessions — including limited tire sets and track time — the young driver showcased impressive pace and maturity.
“I think he did a great job. It’s so difficult to step up in FP1, so difficult,” Mekies said. “It’s very different from test days; you don’t have many tires, you don’t have many laps. And he did just a very, very, very good job. You know, you have seen all the time sheets by yourself, that he was very calm and gave all the right feedback. He didn’t put a foot wrong, didn’t break the car. So honestly, he has impressed us in the FP1. No, no, no question about that. And yeah, we look forward to the next time in the car at the end of the year.”
### No Rush for 2026 Driver Line-up Decision
When asked about the timing of the 2026 driver lineup decision, Mekies reiterated that Red Bull is in no hurry.
“As we say, as much as we accept that everyone would like us to decide, we are not in a rush. We take all the time we need, give these guys as many chances as possible to demonstrate their potential and do their best,” he explained.
### Title Battle Delays 2026 Line-up Announcement
Laurent Mekies also confirmed that Red Bull’s intense title battle this season is the main reason for delaying the announcement of their 2026 driver lineup. The Milton Keynes-based team had initially planned to announce the lineup around the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix but has now chosen to postpone the decision.
Mekies explained, “No, it’s exactly as you say. And I think you are right in saying, and you don’t mention, but you are right in saying that it is also a focus element in our decisions to delay. We don’t think we need the distraction right now. What is at stake is exactly what we described; the parameters are exactly what we are looking at. We are free to choose what we think is best, and therefore that’s the only reason — the only parameter — as you mentioned.”
When asked if they might leave the decision until after the Abu Dhabi finale, Mekies responded, “No, it will be before.”
### Potential 2026 Driver Line-up and Team Dynamics
According to Sportskeeda sources, Isack Hadjar is currently the frontrunner to be promoted to Yuki Tsunoda’s seat in the Red Bull senior team. Arvid Lindblad also remains under consideration for a 2026 drive with Racing Bulls, while Liam Lawson’s future within the Red Bull ecosystem is still uncertain.
If Lindblad is not elevated to the main team, a possible Racing Bulls lineup could feature Tsunoda and Lawson together. However, Tsunoda’s position appears to be the most vulnerable at present, with no clarity on whether he will maintain his place within the Red Bull camp next season.
Since Laurent Mekies’ arrival, Tsunoda has demonstrated improvements in pace and consistency. However, his overall results still lag behind championship leader Max Verstappen, who remains locked in a fierce battle with two McLaren drivers.
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**About the Author**
*Niharika Ghorpade*
Niharika Ghorpade is a journalist covering Formula 1 and NASCAR at Sportskeeda. Coming from a motor-racing background, she stands out as one of the few Indians with a presence in the F1 paddock and holds the distinction of being the only Indian female journalist in the sport. Niharika holds a Bachelor’s degree and possesses strong expertise in SEO and journalism guidelines, combined with a passion for crafting engaging narratives for readers.
*Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/laurent-mekies-shares-verdict-arvid-lindblad-performed-red-bull-fp1-session
