Formula One rookie Arvid Lindblad, who has Indian roots, has opened up about his meetings with India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. The Racing Bulls driver called Gill “really nice” and said athletes from different sports can learn from each other. He also had warm words for teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The remarks came in an interview with NDTV on October 15 in Mumbai. For more stories like this, see our Formula 1 coverage and Shubman Gill coverage.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Driver | Arvid Lindblad, 19, Racing Bulls (Indian roots) |
| Cricketer he met | Shubman Gill, India’s Test and ODI captain |
| First meeting | Silverstone, during the 2026 F1 season |
| Second meeting | India’s cricket match against England earlier this year |
| Praised | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Interview | NDTV, October 15, Mumbai |
What Lindblad Said About Shubman Gill
Lindblad met Gill at Silverstone during the ongoing 2026 season. He later met him again when he attended India’s match against England earlier this year.
Asked whether they had swapped thoughts on the demands of competing at the top level, Lindblad kept it modest. “We spoke briefly about the differences between our sports and some of the ways he manages things,” he said.
He added that the chat was short: “One of the cool aspects of sport is that athletes can learn from each other, but we didn’t have a particularly deep conversation. It was a fairly short interaction.”
Lindblad on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The F1 driver was just as impressed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the young cricketer who has made headlines at a very early age.
“He’s obviously very impressive. It’s amazing to see someone so young performing on such a big stage,” Lindblad said. He called Vaibhav’s achievements “particularly remarkable” and wished him the best.
Why Are Young Athletes Breaking Through So Early?
Asked why young athletes across sports are making their mark so early, Lindblad first joked, “Maybe it’s the rajma or something!”
On a more serious note, he credited advances in technology, coaching and preparation, which he said help young athletes learn faster than ever.
Who Is Arvid Lindblad?
Arvid Lindblad is a British-born driver of Indian descent and one of the youngest drivers on the grid. At 19, he is in his rookie season with the Racing Bulls team.
Quick Answers
Where did Arvid Lindblad meet Shubman Gill?
Lindblad met Gill at Silverstone during the 2026 F1 season and again at India’s match against England earlier this year.
What did Arvid Lindblad say about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
He said Sooryavanshi was impressive and that it was amazing to see someone so young performing on a big stage. He called the achievements particularly remarkable and wished him the best.
Which F1 team does Arvid Lindblad drive for?
Arvid Lindblad drives for Racing Bulls.
Why does Arvid Lindblad think young athletes are succeeding early?
He credited advances in technology, coaching and preparation, saying they help young athletes learn faster.
Source: NDTV interview with Arvid Lindblad, October 15, 2026; Arvid Lindblad on Wikipedia; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Wikipedia.
