Red Bull have announced that Juri Vips and Liam Lawson will step up to Formula Two, whilst Jak Crawford and Ayumu Iwasa join Formula Three.
Vips previously raced in F2 last season as an emergency stand-in for Sean Gelael at DAMS, where he netted a podium in Mugello en route to collecting 16 points from eight races and a 16th placed championship finish ahead of drivers like Artem Markelov, Pedro Piquet and Marino Sato.
The Estonian driver will however drive for Hitech this season after driving for the team in last month’s post-season test, saying; “I’m really looking forward to working with Hitech again,”
Vips previously raced for Hitech in F3 in 2019 where he secured a fourth-placed championship finish, with the Estonian feeling that there is “unfinished business together” with the team and is “confident we will be able to fight for the title this season!”
Lawson meanwhile steps up to F2 as he remains with Hitech partnering Vips, having finished fifth in F3 last season with three wins.
Speaking on his promotion, Lawson who feels “excited” said; Following two years of Formula 3, I feel prepared to be in this championship and do a good job for the team.
“I learnt a lot in the F2 test in Bahrain with Hitech and got a good feeling with the car. This being said, there’s definitely still a lot more to learn so I am looking forward to the challenge ahead!”
Lawson and Vips however aren’t the only Red Bull backed signings made by Hitech GP after the team signed up Crawford and Iwasa for their F3 team.
Crawford spent 2020 racing in ADAC F4 where he became vice-champion, alongside Italian F4 in which he finished sixth overall after missing six races.
Speaking on his promotion to F3, 15 year-old Crawford said; “I am excited to make a step up from F4 to compete in the competitive field of drivers.
“With the success the team has had in previous years, I hope I can achieve the same results and fight at the front of the field.”
New Red Bull junior and Honda backed driver, Iwasa won the French F4 title in 2020 will step up to partner Crawford.
Speaking on his graduation into F3, Iwasa said; “I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. Joining Hitech in both FIA F3 and Asian F3 will be exciting, and I will be able to learn a lot with the success the team have had over the years. I’ll do my best to continuously achieve a good result.”
Hitech are expected to announce their third F3 driver in due course.
Jehan Daruvala will stay with Carlin for a second F2 campaign after concluding his rookie season with victory in the final race of 2020.
Speaking on the decision to sign Daruvala up for a second F2 season, Carlin Team Principal – Trevor Carlin said; “We’re extremely pleased that we have the opportunity to carry on the great progress we have been making with Jehan and have another attack on the FIA F2 Championship.
Daruvala took to Twitter to comment on his extended stay with Carlin in F2, tweeting;
I’m really grateful to Red Bull for their continued faith in me 😀 and delighted to announce that I will drive for @CarlinRacing in @FIA_F2 in 2021✅…I have a great relationship with the team and I’m confident we can have a strong season together 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/rXXibebwED
— Jehan Daruvala (@DaruvalaJehan) January 15, 2021
Jonny Edgar meanwhile will drive for Carlin in F3 after winning 2020 ADAC F4 title in 2020, with the 16 year-old commenting; “I know there will be a lot of hard work ahead but it’s such a prestigious series and on the F1 support calendar, it’s where every driver aims to be.
Edgar participated in F3 post-season testing last autumn, commenting on the “increase in power and technicality of the car” which he remarked as “a real step up” from previous cars that he had raced in ahead of spending winter at Carlin’s workshop preparing for this season.
No news about Igor Fraga…