Arvid Lindblad has been left questioning his luck after technical problems have severely limited running during his rookie Formula 1 campaign.
Lindblad has lost significant quantities of track time in China, Japan and Miami, all through technical problems with his Racing Bulls car.
Mileage Missed Due to Technical Faults
Speaking in Miami after missing a Sprint race for the second time this season, Lindblad said: “We knew going into it, it wasn’t going to be easy, just from being down on mileage from missing the Sprint.”
He added that he struggled quite a lot on the mediums during the first stint, making it not very easy. Lindblad stated that he felt a lot better as soon as they put on the hard tyres, making the car a lot nicer to drive, and thought the pace was a chunk better.
“We just need to look in and understand what I could have done better, what things we could have done a bit better as a team,” Lindblad commented.
Learning on the Job
While rival drivers had the experience of long runs in a race situation, Lindblad was playing catch-up in the grand prix.
“In the first 20 laps, I learnt a massive amount,” he said.
“Even if you say I started the race from lap 20 today, it would have made a big difference. It is what it is in the end. We’re all trying our best, and it hopefully won’t happen again in Canada.”
Remaining Positive Despite Setbacks
While the Briton earned plaudits for an eighth-place finish on his debut in Australia, he has been unable to add to this early points haul.
He has finished behind team-mate Liam Lawson on both occasions that the pair have since reached the chequered flag.
“I don’t really see it as frustrating. Me moaning about it isn’t going to make a difference. It is what it is. It’s a challenge, but I enjoy the challenge,” Lindblad stated.
He added: “I’ve enjoyed a lot the first couple of races, and I’m enjoying driving the car at the moment.”
In the end, there’s still a lot to learn on my side. Obviously, it’s another weekend where I’ve missed important mileage, which is a bit of a shame, but it is what it is.