Scott turns 15 today – what´s next?
For an ordinary swedish teenager, turning 15 means cake, maybe a moped, or even an A-traktor. For Scott Kin Lindblom, it means he is now eligible to race in Formula 4 – yet another step on the path toward the elite ranks of global motorsport. So, what happens now?
– There are three race weekends still to go in the British Ginetta Junior Championship – that’s all I can reveal for now, says Scott.
Scott is celebrating his birthday at the former F1 circuit in Estoril, Portugal, where he’s serving as a reference driver during Red Bull Driver Search – the selection process for identifying the next potential motorsport stars.
Scott Kin Lindblom is the rising talent from Vika, just outside Falun, Sweden. He began karting at the age of five and has rapidly climbed through the motorsport ranks. In 2023, he took home the bronze medal at the FIA Karting World Championship. In 2024, he claimed the WSK Euro Series title, became the youngest-ever driver selected for the Swedish national motorsport team, and made history again as the youngest senior winner in the FIA OK class – all at the age of 13. Achievements like that don’t go unnoticed.
In August 2024, Scott was invited to the Red Bull Junior Team’s selection event, Red Bull Driver Search – a talent academy operated by Red Bull Racing’s Formula 1 team, under the leadership of Dr. Helmut Marko. Scott was selected. A critical step on the road to Formula 1. Now, as this years chosen driver, Scott is the benchmark for the other talents at Red Bull Driver Search – with Dr. Marko closely monitoring his development.
What does it mean to be a driver in the Red Bull Junior Team?
– Above all, I get a lot of support with physical training and driving – especially simulator sessions at Red Bull Racing’s base in Milton Keynes. Red Bull also manages my racing season and helps ensure I’m placed in the right team and competing in the toughest championships in the world.
– The expectations are high – you have to deliver. Raw speed is the most important thing, and then they help you refine the rest to get results. But they’re very clear – they give you the tools and explain the goals, but they told all of us juniors: ”We are not here to spoon-feed you. You need to do the job to reach the goals.”
– The most recent Red Bull Junior to reach Formula 1 is Isack Hadjar – but Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen were also part of the program. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow and develop in this environment.
This year, 2025, you have moved from karting to car racing, competing in both the Nordic and British Ginetta series as a 14-year-old. What’s the difference between karting and car racing?
– Mainly the size – and driving a car with a full body is quite different from a kart where you’re sitting almost directly on the track and can see the wheels.
– The cars in Ginetta Nordic and the British Ginetta Junior Championship are similar – same chassis and engine – but in the junior series, the engine is restricted to 100 hp compared to the 170 hp in the Swedish GT5-spec car. The junior car also uses road tires instead of slicks. They both weigh only around 800 kg, so they’re still fast.
– In the UK, it’s harder to overtake with the less powerful car – you really have to time the slipstream perfectly.
How has the racing gone so far?
– In Sweden, I’ve won every race I’ve entered – except one. Sometimes race weekends overlap, and when that happens, we prioritize the UK.
– In the British Ginetta Junior Championship, the competition is super tough, with top drivers aged 14–17 from all over the world. I’ve been running up front, taken several podiums, and led many races – so I’m getting closer and closer to that first win.
What’s the point of racing in Ginetta? There must be a huge difference to a formula car?
– You get a lot of track time on big international circuits in a low-power, rear-wheel-drive car with limited grip – it teaches you to drive precisely and accurately. One mistake and you immediately lose speed and positions.
– It’s a perfect school to transition from karting to formula cars. We race on F1 circuits like Silverstone and Brands Hatch in the UK, and our last race weekend was at Zandvoort in the Netherlands. These are big international tracks, and we run three races per weekend, plus lots of testing – which is crucial to becoming fast and learning the circuits for the future.
Right, the future. What everyone wants to know – now that you’ve turned 15, what’s next?
– I’ve done a few Formula 4 test days this summer – and it’s gone pretty well. That’s all I can say. We’ll see what Dr. Marko says after these days at Estoril.
No summer vacation then, if you want to become a professional racing driver?
– I haven’t been home more than four days in a row all summer – and even then, it’s been physical training to stay in shape and endure full days in the race car. I also spend a lot of time in the simulator – it’s great for learning new tracks. But I’ve managed to hang out with friends too – a little, at least.
What does your physical and mental training look like?
– I’m lucky to have Nicklas Karlsson and Sara Lennmann back home – world-class track and field athletes who work with me alongside Red Bull’s performance coach in England. They make sure I’m strong and that I meet the levels required for the next step.
– I also work with Annelie Östberg in Borlänge when I’m home – she’s amazing and means a lot to me. She makes sure I’m always mentally prepared for both racing and everything that comes with it.
What about school – how do you balance studying with all the traveling?
– I go to a fantastic school in my home town Falun with great teachers who help adapt the workload. I’m starting 9th grade now and want good grades for the future.
Okay, if you had to choose – good grades or a top Formula 4 team?
– I have to get both. If I don’t do well in school, there will be no racing – that’s what my parents say. And Dr. Marko has also made it clear that school is important, and that I should continue in a regular local school as long as possible.
