Alex Jacques hails Arvid Lindblad as F1 rookie who “looks like he’s been here for years”

Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques has argued that rookie driver Arvid Lindblad "looks like he's been in F1 for years."

The Briton joined the grid in 2026 with Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. He lined up in P9 for his debut race at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and managed to convert it to an eighth-place finish, scoring four points on his debut.

After the opening four rounds of the season, the 18-year-old sits 12th in the drivers' standings, just two positions behind his team-mate.

In addition to his on-track efforts, Lindblad has also drawn praise for his analytical and honest approach to the media. 

Speaking during an F1 season start debrief video, Jacques pointed to the Racing Bulls driver's maturity.

"Doesn't matter what regulation set we have, the team that's based in Faenza, no matter what they're called, they come out with a really nice car that's got a broad setup window. Doesn't matter who they've got driving it, they always seem to go well at the start of the year.

"And who they've got driving it, Liam Lawson's driving with a lot of confidence. Loved his sprint race gamble because that team in the past has got strategy a little bit wrong. So great sprint race gamble in China for Lawson.

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

"Good point scoring finish for him, and Arvid Lindblad looks like he's been in Formula 1 for years."

F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto added: "I remember talking to Alan Permane before the start of the season about why they brought Arvid on, and he was like, the level of maturity that I think he showed throughout the time that he bedded in with that team really impressed him.

"Obviously, you don't know how they're going to perform for sure until they get into a Formula 1 car, but there was something about him that really impressed Alan, and I think the job that he's done, he's super self-critical.

"We get a few of those drivers through the TV pen, when they analyse their race. And I've noticed in the TV pen after races, he's gone into quite a lot of depth, having only got out of the car a few minutes beforehand, and he's actually quite tough on very little things or small mistakes that he's made.

"He's also sheltering a lot of the blame from the team as well. So, when I talk to drivers like that, that always makes me think that they've got a very strong mental capacity to deal with that kind of thing."