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Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad will start the Miami Grand Prix sprint race from the pit lane after his team broke a rarely-seen rule. The young Brit was due to drive from P15, having been bumped up a place following Alex Albon's grid penalty, as he had qualified in 16th originally.

But the FIA have now confirmed that Lindblad will instead get underway from the pit lane, as his team broke curfew and failed to put a cover on his car on Friday night. The 18-year-old has paid the price for a rarely-seen rule breach by the team, who used one of their four permitted exceptions to save them from further punishment.

The FIA announced: "Not covering the car after a Sprint Qualifying session is a breach of Article B3.4.2 a).

"Therefore, car 41 should now be required to start the Sprint from the pit lane according to Article B3.5.3 b) of the 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations."

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The governing body added: "Last night team personnel of the VISA Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team, who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the twelve (12) hours and fourtysix (46) minutes period which commenced at 20:14 on 01 May, fifteen (15) hours and fourtysix (46) minutes before the scheduled start time of P3 and ends three (3) hours before the scheduled start time of the Sprint at 09:00 on 02 May.

"This was the first of the four (4) individual exceptions permitted for the VISA Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team during the 2026 Formula One Championship season, and therefore no action should be taken."

Lindblad, the sole rookie this season, has already had a podium finish this year and is itching to get back in the seat after a six-week break due to Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP cancellations.

"It is my first experience of a Formula 1 car, but in the end, I wouldn't really say it's an advantage because it's very different for all of us," he told Beyond the Flag. "What the guys were used to all the previous years is what I've grown up with in karting, in F4, F3, F2. I think it's been a challenge for all of us drivers and teams to get up to speed with.

"But it's been fun. There are things that are different, and obviously we're working very closely with the FIA to get the balance right on everything. But I've enjoyed it. It's been a new challenge, and I think I've enjoyed driving it. I think it's been positive for the fans as well so far."