Red Bull Announce Surprise Driver Change for Mexico After Max Verstappen Win

Red Bull have announced that a new driver will be behind the wheel during the Mexico Grand Prix.

Ever since many Formula One fans decided that reigning champion Max Verstappen had no chance of defending his Drivers Championship title, the Dutchman has been on an incredible run of form that has put him right in the mix.

Following wins in both the Italian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen failed to make it three in a row in Singapore at the start of the month, instead finishing second, but more than made up for it during the United States Grand Prix.

At the beloved Circuit of the Americas in Texas, Verstappen put in perhaps his best performance of the season, claiming pole position and the victory in both the sprint race and main race, narrowing the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen won't have to wait long until he can further add to his chances of retaining his title as the Mexican Grand Prix gets underway on Friday, but the Dutchman won't be driving the Red Bull on the opening day.

Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix. (Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images))

Ahead of the 2025 F1 season, the FIA, the governing body for the sport, introduced a series of rule changes, including the decision to make it mandatory for each of the 20 drivers on the grid to give up their seat in a free practice session at least twice this year.

And that is exactly what Red Bull are doing at Mexican Grand Prix, as young driver Arvid Lindblad will replace Verstappen during the first free practice session of the weekend on Friday afternoon.

At just 18 years old, Lindblad is widely being billed as the potential future of the Red Bull team and, after his Super Licence was approved in June, the F1 team are eager to give him as many opportunities as possible.

Arvid Lindblad will replace Verstappen for FP1 of the Mexico Grand Prix. (Image: James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Mexico will be the second time that the British-Swedish driver has stepped into a Red Bull F1 car for a practice session, having taken Yuki Tsunoda's seat for FP1 of the British Grand Prix in July.

In his first outing in a Red Bull Formula One car, Lindblad produced a P14 finish at Silverstone.

Lindblad's outing in Verstappen's Red Bull will mark the second time that the F1 champion has given up his seat for a rookie this season after Ayumu Iwasa replaced him for FP1 just four races into the season in Bahrain, meaning he won't need to do so again this season.