Christian Lundgaard on the rise: Why he can take it all in 2026

Christian Lundgaard joined the top group at Arrow McLaren in 2025, where he honed his performance profile. But what about his potential in IndyCar for 2026?

Since joining the team, he has demonstrated his ability to thrive in an environment where Arrow McLaren has set its sights on competing for the championship title.

His time at Rahal Letterman Lanigan has laid the groundwork for this. In 2022, he finished the championship in 14th place, securing one podium finish.

He had his breakthrough in 2023, achieving 8th place in the overall standings, his first victory in Toronto, two pole positions and another podium finish. His performance in Toronto was a turning point. He won a technically demanding street race despite having what was considered a weaker package. Finishing the 2024 season in 11th place confirmed his progress.

Moving to Arrow McLaren for 2025 showed how much further his potential could extend. This season was the highlight of his career so far. He finished fifth overall, achieved six podiums and one pole position.

This was the strongest performance by a McLaren driver in the No. 7 car since the team joined the series. There has been a clear improvement: Fourteenth place in 2022, eighth place in 2023, eleventh place in 2024, and now fifth place in 2025. The upward trend is unstoppable.

Lundgaard’s performance on street and city circuits is particularly striking. Of all 27 drivers in 2025, he scored the second-highest number of points in this classification. Only Alex Palou scored more points than him.

This is the clearest statistical indication that Lundgaard is already performing at a level that could win him the title on classic race tracks. His rhythmic line selection, precise braking and ability to maintain pace over distance make him one of the strongest drivers in the field.

However, the oval package remains an area for improvement. Without progress in this area, achieving the title will be difficult, as oval points make up a significant part of the season.

But wait!

Lundgaard is only 24 years old. Prior to McLaren, his entire IndyCar experience comprises only three full seasons. Jumping to fifth place overall in his first year with a top team shows that he still has room to grow.

His age, technical maturity, experience in a high-performance environment and strength on road courses suggest he could realistically contend for the title in 2026. And win it all.

written by Nic Laos // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment