Britain's youngest F1 driver on his debut season so far - and learning to skateboard

Arvid Lindblad was supposed to be driving at 200mph around the streets of Jeddah in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend.

But Britain's youngest Formula 1 driver's had an unexpected month off just three races into his debut season.

The 18-year-old tells BBC Newsbeat he's been reflecting on how he's done so far, as well as hanging out with friends and learning to skateboard.

But he says he's looking forward to getting back on the grid, having his Drive to Survive moment and competing in a home Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Lindblad made his debut at the Australian GP in Melbourne last month, scoring points for his Racing Bulls team by finishing eighth.

He then competed in China and Japan before the following races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled because of the war in the Middle East.

So with only three races under his belt, Lindblad tells Newsbeat he's not got used to describing himself as an F1 driver yet.

"I don't think it's fully sunk in," he says.

"This is something I've been working towards my whole life. So the fact it's come true is extremely special, extremely cool."

And Lindblad says he can't wait to get back to racing again in the US in a fortnight.

"What I'm most looking forward to is getting back into the car in Miami," he says.

"I've enjoyed the break but racing is my passion. It's probably what makes me happiest."

Eagled-eye fans have noticed Lindblad's racing helmet has three flags on the back - for England, Sweden and India.

He grew up in Virginia Water in Surrey but his dad's Swedish and his family's Indian heritage comes from his mum's side.

"I've really been surrounded by all three cultures. It's shaped me into the person and driver I am today," he says.

Lindblad has a few months to wait until his first home Grand Prix – at Silverstone in July – something he says will "be really special".

"My whole family will be there. I think racing at home, there's no real feeling like it."

But somewhere he won't be able to race this season is another place that means a lot to him – India.

The Buddh International Circuit hosted races in in Uttar Pradesh for three seasons but ended in 2013.

It didn't return after a tax dispute with the local authorities, with F1 bosses stating at the time the reasons behind it were "very political".

Lindblad went to Delhi with Racing Bulls in pre-season and says getting the chance to race there would be "really cool".

"I race under the British flag so having one home race is pretty cool, if there were to be a second one that'd be really special as well," he says.