Hitech GP and Carlin have recruited various Red Bull junior drivers across F2 and F3 for 2023 season.
Isack Hadjar and Jak Crawford will both graduate to F2 with Hitech GP for the new season, having previously tested for the team during the post-season test.
For Hadjar, this decision means that the Frenchman will remain with Hitech for a second consecutive season as he steps up to F2, after he claimed three wins and a pair of third-placed podium finishes en-route to fourth in a fierce F3 title fight last season.
Speaking about his decision to stay with Hitech GP, Hadjar commented: “I’m really excited to be part of Red Bull junior team and continue this journey with Hitech for another year. Hopefully we can win some more races and have a strong season together.”
Crawford meanwhile returns to Hitech GP after previously driving for the team in 2021 F3 season, but he joined PREMA for last season in which he took one win during his run to a seventh-placed championship finish.
The American though has iterated that he is anticipating “a tough season with a strong grid” but is excited to take on a new challenge in F2.
Sebastian Montoya meanwhile will drive full-time in F3 this season with Hitech in his first campaign as a Red Bull junior, after he impressed with a pair of eighth-placed finishes on a guest appearance in Zandvoort for Campos last season.
Montoya – son of ex F1 race winner, Juan Pablo Montoya – explained that he is eager to “work together to have a great year” with Hitech, as he sets his target of being able to “fight at the front consistently.”
Fittipaldi and Maloney Move To Carlin For 2023 F2 Season
Carlin will run two new Red Bull juniors in F2 this season after having agreed a deal with Red Bull for Enzo Fittipaldi and Zane Maloney respectively.
Fittipaldi’s move sees him remain in the series but switch from Charouz to Carlin after he finished eighth last season in his first full-time F2 season, with six podiums in total of which four came during Feature Race in Imola, Austria, Hungary and Monza.
Addressing his move across to Carlin and decision to join Red Bull’s junior programme, Fittipaldi commented: “I’m extremely excited to be joining Carlin and as well to be part of the Red Bull family for the 2023 season. It’s an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait for the first race weekend in Bahrain.”
Maloney meanwhile steps up to F2 full time with Carlin, having previously participated in the final round of 2022 season for Trident after he finished as vice-champion in F3, following a stunning trio of Feature Race victories at final three rounds of the season.
This move also sees the Barbados-born driver reunite with Carlin under whom he won 2019 British F4 title and drove for during 2020 Euroformula Open.
Speaking about his reunion with the British team, Maloney said: “Joining Carlin in F2 and to do so as part of the Red Bull Junior Team is a fantastic opportunity after my first year of F3 last season.
I’m re-joining a team I know extremely well and have won a championship with before in F4. I’ve seen first-hand how strong the team are in F2 and we had a great test together last year in Abu Dhabi.”
Maloney also described the chance to be part of Red Bull’s junior team as “a dream come true” and is “incredibly excited” to get his season underway across weekend of 3-5 March.
Carlin Team Principal, Trevor Carlin added that Fittipaldi and Maloney “are a drea pairing with both experience and potential.”
On the decision to recruit Fittipaldi, Carlin said that the Brazilian “really caught our attention last year” with his strong performances for Charouz.
Carlin meanwhile described the chance to sign an “incredibly impressive” driver in Maloney for a reunion as “fantastic” following a strong finish to his rookie F3 season, which is best described as a season of two halves for the 19 year-old.
On what Maloney needs to do to improve his overall performance, Carlin offered the following advice: “He certainly needs to focus on building his experience in the first half of the season but I think by the mid-way point we’ll start to see some real flashes of potential.
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