Arvid Lindblad thrills New Delhi ahead of his F1 debut

In front of thousands of spectators gathered at the India Expo Centre in Noida, in the New Delhi region, Arvid Lindblad took the wheel of the legendary RB8, world champion in 2012. car de Sebastian Vettel, crowned that year, sported the Racing Bulls livery for the occasion. Hometown of the only rookie on the grid of F1 In 2026, India had hosted three Grand Prix between 2011 and 2013, and still seems very marked by the passion for motorsports.

The event held particular significance for the young Briton, the third F1 driver in history to have Indian roots. Returning to a country that had marked his childhood, just days before his official debut in Formula 1, gave the demonstration a powerful symbolic dimension. "It was a unique opportunity to be part of the Red Bull "Moto Jam and driving an F1 car in India. Having the chance to be behind the wheel in this country, whose culture really shaped me during my childhood, was very special."he confided after his performance.

The show was also part of the Holi celebrations, the festival of colors scheduled for March 3rd. True to a tradition established during Red Bull events in India, the RB8 released clouds of colored powder in its wake, offering a spectacular image rooted in local culture.

It was absolute madness during an Arvid Lindblad demonstration in India, his mother's country of origin. 🤩

The atmosphere in the stands was incredible.#F1 pic.twitter.com/6eSgPyqNPh

— Le Sprint (@LeSprintEdition) March 2, 2026

Prior to this event, former Indian driver Karun Chandhok also brought the VCARB-liveried RB8 to the Buddh International Circuit. This appearance was highly symbolic: it had been fourteen years since an Indian driver had raced on this track, since Narain Karthikeyan in 2012.

Moreover, the Red Bull Moto Jam was not limited to Formula 1. Lebanese drift champion Abdo Feghali, stuntman Aras Gibieza, athlete Abdulrahman AlGhamdi, motocross specialist Roman Chirikov as well as freestylers Sebastian Westberg and Vivian Ganther also put on a show in their respective disciplines.

Between spectacular demonstration and return to his roots, Arvid Lindblad, for his part, savored every moment. "From the start of the weekend with the visit to India Gate in Delhi to the fans cheering me on during the exhibition, it was a truly wonderful moment. There was no better way to kick off my season before heading to Melbourne next week."he added. Just days before his baptism of fire at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in F1, the British driver of Indian origin thus mixed personal emotion and charm offensive, offering local fans a taste of the season to come, and reminding them that Formula 1 retains an undiminished resonance in India.

ALSO READ > Karun Chandhak has returned to the wheel of an F1 car with Sebastian Vettel's RB8.