Arvid Lindblad’s Diwali Helmet Is Personal, And So Is His Playlist

In his debut Formula One season, 19-year-old Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad is finding ways to make his mark both on and off the track. The British rookie, who has grown up closely connected to his Indian roots and family traditions, is now bringing a little piece of that heritage to the São Paulo Grand Prix with a custom Diwali-themed helmet. But beyond the rangolis, diyas and Phulkari-inspired embroidery, there’s another side to Lindblad we’re curious about: his music taste. From Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh to Drake, Frank Ocean and K-pop groups ENHYPEN and CORTIS, his playlist is quite the cultural crossover.

Ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 8, Lindblad has unveiled a special helmet inspired by family celebrations and his Indian heritage. 

The helmet is deeply personal. Its dark navy-blue base represents the night sky, while bright yellow and orange detailing, complete with glitter, evokes fireworks illuminating the darkness. Rangoli artwork takes centre stage, a particularly meaningful inclusion for Lindblad, who grew up making rangolis with his family during Diwali. There is also a lotus flower, a diya and Phulkari-inspired embroidery around the base of the helmet, referencing the traditional chunnis his grandmother would wear.

“Diwali has always been something very special to me. It’s about family and spending time together, especially with my nani and nana,” he tells us. Growing up, the celebrations involved decorating the house, making rangolis, lighting diyas and, naturally, enjoying some very good food. Since racing commitments mean he won’t be celebrating the festival in the way he normally would, the helmet became his way of bringing a little piece of home to the track.

Beyond the festivities, Lindblad’s growing connection with Indian pop culture is also reflected in his music choices. He has been spotted using Punjabi tracks in his social media posts, and his current rotation includes some familiar names. “Honestly, just his new album, Aujla Season 1. There’s a lot of stuff from there that I really like,” he says, referring to Karan Aujla. Among the tracks he’s used in his posts is ‘Real Bad Man’, alongside another song from the album.

His listening habits don’t stop there. “I also really like Shubh and Diljit Dosanjh,” he adds. For someone who spends much of his year travelling across continents, music offers another connection to the cultures and sounds he enjoys.

And then there’s K-pop. Lindblad’s interest in the genre isn’t just a passing curiosity; he even follows ENHYPEN on Instagram. When asked about the groups he’s been listening to, he recalls seeing K-pop artists perform in Singapore, including CORTIS at the Singapore Grand Prix. 

“I thought it was a cool vibe,” he says. “I like music and fashion. It’s something I’ve been more outspoken about recently, and I thought it was quite cool to see.”

His playlist, however, refuses to be boxed into one genre. From Drake and Frank Ocean to British electronic music outfit Chase & Status, Lindblad’s listening habits move between hip-hop, R&B, Punjabi music and beyond. He even mentions teammate Liam Lawson’s musical interests, although country music, he makes clear, isn’t quite his thing.

It’s a glimpse of the personality behind the helmet, and of a young driver navigating his first Formula One season while discovering new ways to express himself. Between learning to work with a much larger team, managing an increasingly packed calendar and finding his rhythm on the track, Lindblad is also embracing the interests and traditions that shape his identity beyond racing.

The Diwali helmet is perhaps the most visible expression of that. With Racing Bulls also bringing the celebrations into the garage through rangoli-inspired decorations, a lotus flower and a traditional diya, the tribute extends beyond the driver himself. A ‘Happy Diwali’ sticker on his car’s halo completes the gesture.

For Lindblad, celebrating his Indian heritage on a global sporting stage is not simply about a one-off festive design. These traditions have been part of his life since childhood, and he is open to bringing more of them to Formula One in the future. For now, he’s taking a little bit of Diwali, his family’s rangoli traditions and a playlist that moves from Karan Aujla to CORTIS all the way to Interlagos.

Also, read:

Kimi Antonelli’s Off-Duty Looks Are Worth A Victory Lap

K-Pop Group CORTIS On ‘PACK IT UP’, ‘MONEYMONEYMONEY’ And Finding Their Sound