The latest generation of Formula 1 drivers are now coming up against some of the racing heroes that they grew up watching.
Lewis Hamilton made his debut in 2007 and even then, he had watched Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher dominate the sport and was suddenly coming up against them.
Remarkably, Alonso is still going and a growing number of F1 drivers weren’t born when he made his debut with Minardi back in 2001.
Hamilton is the second-most experienced driver on the grid and heading into his 18th consecutive campaign, is about to embark on a new adventure with Ferrari.
Ferrari have high hopes for Hamilton’s debut with the team at the Australian Grand Prix, but he’s still got a key advantage over the likes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto who will be taking part in their first F1 race next month.
Hamilton’s rivals Red Bull saw both of their driver line-ups on the grid change over the winter, with Liam Lawson stepping up into Sergio Perez’s seat, and Hadjar joining Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls.
It means the next driver in the Red Bull setup ready and waiting in case a seat opens up is Arvid Lindblad.
Lindblad recently won the Formula Regional Oceania championship, earning him enough superlicence points to immediately step up into Formula 1 if called upon before his maiden F2 campaign begins.
In an interview with the Inside Line Podcast, the teenager explained the ‘connection’ he already feels with Hamilton including one admission that will put into context just how long the seven-time world champion has been in the sport.
Arvid Lindblad explains the ‘connection’ he has with Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton
Lindblad was asked about whether Verstappen and Hamilton were his sporting idols and replied: “Yeah, I think that’s probably a good way to put it.
“I’ve always felt some sense of connection to Lewis. Obviously, being a man of colour at a time when I started watching Formula 1 he was the only one really.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
“For some reason, I also thought it was cool that he started racing in Formula 1 in 2007, and I was born in 2007!
“If I’m being honest, he was the one who I always felt quite connected with and like you say, when I started really following the sport, he was the one who was taking it by the reins and winning.”
Lindblad admitted his ‘see you in five years’ message to Lando Norris was inspired by Hamilton and his conversation with Ron Dennis as a child that led to McLaren supporting his junior career.
Although the 17-year-old needed to have a conversation with Helmut Marko rather than Dennis to begin his connection with an F1 team, it might end up with both drivers reaching the same level of motorsport.
Arvid Lindblad explains what’s special about Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
Lindblad was then asked what was special about Hamilton and Verstappen in their own ways and continued: “Even for me, it’s hard to really compare the two because I think they’re at very different stages of their career and they’re very different drivers.
“I mean, Lewis, I don’t think anyone can really doubt his talent. What he’s been able to achieve has been remarkable and he’ll always be known as one of the greats of the sport.
“Max is…maybe he’s not now up and coming, but he’s still very young and I think he’s just extremely impressive.
READ MORE: Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad’s life outside F1 from height to parents
“It seems like whatever he does, whatever he gets in, whatever situation he’s put in, he’s able to make the best of it and just be extremely fast.
“I think the best way to describe Max at the moment is he seems to have no weaknesses and he’s just a bit better than everyone else.”
Lindblad might be one season away from admiring Hamilton and Verstappen from afar to racing against them during F1 Grand Prix weekends.
Christian Horner rates Lindblad highly and it’s unlikely that he or Marko would hesitate to promote the teenager if one of their current drivers isn’t performing.
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