Helmut Marko now shares what aspect of Oscar Piastri’s development he wants to copy at Red Bull

Oscar Piastri has established himself as one of the top talents in Formula 1 after two impressive seasons with McLaren.

After winning the Formula 2 title in 2021, the Aussie found himself at Alpine the following year as a test driver, gaining valuable mileage and experience in F1 machinery.

Alpine had announced that he had signed a contract to race with the team in 2023. However, Piastri controversially revealed that he had not signed said deal and ended up joining McLaren to partner Lando Norris.

The 23-year-old won the Rookie of the Year award last season as he finished ninth with two podiums and a Sprint race win in Qatar. Piastri went even better in 2024 as he only failed to score points once, grabbed two wins and eight podiums to finish fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.

Heading into his third season, Piastri will certainly be one of the frontrunners for the title given McLaren have the strongest package and his ability and speed behind the wheel.

Speaking on the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko shared how he is looking to copy the Aussie’s development with one of his rising talents.

Helmut Marko looking to emulate Oscar Piastri development with Arvid Lindblad through F1 tests

With Sergio Perez set to leave Red Bull before the 2025 season and with Liam Lawson tipped to replace him, there are set to be numerous changes at the Milton Keynes-based squad.

One of those is that Arvid Lindblad will become a Red Bull reserve driver alongside Pepe Marti. The duo will race as teammates at Campos Racing in Formula 2 in 2025.

And Marko revealed that Lindblad will be given ‘several tests’ in F1 cars next season – an opportunity that was not afforded to the likes of Lawson or Isack Hadjar – ahead of a potential full-time seat in 2026.

Asked whether Lindblad will get any outings in F1 machinery next year, Marko replied: “Yes, that’s the plan. We’ll put him, the number isn’t yet decided, but it will be several tests.

“I think in the past if I compare with Doohan or with Piastri or also with Bearman, they had a lot of tests in older, two-year-old versions [of a] Formula 1 car.

“For example, Liam Lawson didn’t have this opportunity and also Hadjar, to a certain amount, didn’t have this opportunity and this we will change for Arvid, that if he makes a very good season in Formula 2, that he can go with good experience into Formula 1 in 2026 maybe.”

Could Arvid Lindblad reach F1 in 2026?

Lindblad is highly rated by Christian Horner at Red Bull, and it is not hard to see why given what he has achieved already in his career.

Turning only 17 in August, the Brit finished third in Italian F4 in 2024 before moving to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and Formula 3 this season. Finishing 13th in the former, Lindblad claiming four wins in the latter – the most of any other driver and finished fourth in the standings.

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For 2025, the teenager will be racing for one of the most competitive teams in F2 and will be looking to impress Red Bull given the opportunity he is set to be afforded in 2025 as a reserve driver.

If he is to have a successful campaign next year, there is a chance he could end up on the F1 grid, as both Yuki Tsunoda and Hadjar – who is set to replace Liam Lawson at RB after his promotion – will only be contracted for next season.