Lewis Hamilton and Ron Dennis inspired Red Bull star’s bold statement to…read more
Arvid Lindblad, a 17-year-old prospect in the Red Bull Junior Team, recently recalled how his bold declaration to Lando Norris – “I’ll see you in five years” – was inspired by a moment in Lewis Hamilton’s early career. Lindblad’s statement, made when he was just 14, has gained renewed attention, as his potential rise to Formula 1 seems increasingly plausible. The young Brit has been identified by Red Bull’s Helmut Marko as a future “new champion” and may find his way to the F1 grid soon, possibly through Red Bull’s second team, AlphaTauri. This is particularly relevant as AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda is expected to compete in his fifth and final season with the team in 2025.
Though Lindblad has yet to secure an F1 seat, he is off to a promising start, having recently won the Formula Regional Oceania title, earning the necessary FIA Superlicence points. He will now focus on his Formula 2 campaign with Campos Racing. As he begins to see a potential F1 future, Lindblad’s memorable comment to Norris seems to be moving toward fruition.
In a resurfaced YouTube video, a young Lindblad confidently approached Norris, then a McLaren driver, and told him, “Hello Lando, I want you to remember me. I’ll see you in five years.” This declaration, made during a chance meeting when Norris was launching his go-kart, surprised many but reflected Lindblad’s determined ambition. Speaking on the Inside Line F1 podcast, Lindblad shared that his inspiration for this bold move came from a similar moment in Lewis Hamilton’s early career.
Hamilton, at the time a rising star in British karting, had famously approached McLaren’s Ron Dennis at an awards ceremony and said, “One day I want to be Formula 1 World Champion in your car.” That statement, made by Hamilton after winning the British Karting Championship, eventually led to him driving for McLaren in 2007, where he would go on to win his first World Championship in 2008.
Lindblad explained that when he saw Norris, he was reminded of Hamilton’s determination. “I remember the story of Hamilton when he saw Ron Dennis for the first time and said, ‘I’ll drive one of your cars one day,’” Lindblad said. He continued, “I just thought, ‘Why not? Just tell him I’ll be driving against him in a few years’ time.’” This moment of inspiration led Lindblad to approach Norris with full confidence, making his now-famous statement on the spot.
With the backing of Red Bull, Lindblad is on track to achieve his F1 goals. His future in the sport looks bright, and if his trajectory continues, he may indeed find himself racing alongside or against Norris in the coming years.
