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Oliver Rowland believes Arvid Lindblad has everything required to build on his impressive maiden Formula 1 campaign, offering a frank and measured assessment of his protege's season ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Lindblad's position on the 2026 grid is unique — he is the only rookie among the field, a distinction that brings both pressure and opportunity in equal measure. The 18-year-old Englishman announced his arrival in spectacular fashion, scoring points on his debut in Australia, but the path since has been less straightforward.
Rowland — the reigning Formula E champion — has been a constant presence in Lindblad's corner, attending every Grand Prix that has not clashed with his own all-electric racing commitments. That level of dedication speaks volumes about the investment being made in Lindblad's development.
"Up and down, which is to be expected," Rowland told Motorsport Week exclusively. "I think, obviously, the first race was exceptional. Miami was a little bit disappointing and a lot for us to look at. So I think it's not easy for him on a Sprint weekend, especially with reliability issues, missing Sprint race [in Miami]."
"But all the key ingredients are there, and we just need to keep working hard. So it's a case of up and down, but it's quite normal when you're a rookie."
Canada presents Lindblad with a familiar challenge — a circuit he has never raced on before, mirroring the situation he encountered in Miami. Beyond the unfamiliar layout, the wider technical context adds another layer of complexity. All of Lindblad's previous single-seater experience was accumulated under a different regulatory era, meaning this year's new, increasingly-electrified F1 machines represent genuinely uncharted territory for the youngster.
Yet Rowland remains a reassuring voice. Having recently delivered an emphatic win in the Monaco E-Prix Race 2, the Formula E champion has confirmed he will be present at the next three races — Montreal, Monaco, and Barcelona — to keep a close eye on his charge's progress.
"We have a good, fast teammate, Liam, who's quite experienced now in Formula 1," Rowland added. "We have a really good group of people around him, and we analyse afterwards what he did well, what he did bad."
"I think the start was really good. Lots to learn from Miami, and probably Montreal won't be the easiest, let's say. But we're there to keep an eye on it."
For Lindblad, the goal is clear: make another strong impression and cement his status as the latest in a long line of exceptional young talents to emerge from the Red Bull driver programme. The expectation surrounding him is significant — but if Rowland's assessment is anything to go by, the foundations are firmly in place.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.