Lawson to race for Hitech in Formula 2

Liam Lawson will race full-time in FIA Formula 2 this year, making the step up from Formula 3 with Hitech GP.

Estonian driver Juri Vips will join the Kiwi for the eight-round championship, which kicks off in Bahrain on March’s final weekend.

The move was largely expected, with Hitch losing both of its 2020 F2 drivers at the end of the previous season.

Lawson raced for the British squad in F3 that same season, claiming three race wins and finishing fifth in the driver’s championship.

Juri Vips will partner him for the full campaign. The two were teammates together for the official end-of-season test in Bahrain last year.

Alongside F2, Lawson will also dovetail a Red Bull drive in the DTM this year. The two calendars currently have zero clashes, meaning the 18-year-old should be able to run both seasons unimpeded.

“I’m excited to be racing in F2 with Hitech this year,” Lawson said. “Following two years of Formula 3, I feel prepared to be in this championship and do a good job for the team.

“I learned a lot in the test and had 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.”

Vips raced for Hitech in F3 back in 2019, taking fourth in the standings and winning three races.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Hitech again,” Vips said.

“We had a good year in F3 back in 2019, but we have some unfinished business together. They had a great season in their first year in F2 and I’m confident we will be able to fight for the title this season.”

Hitech has also announced it will run two Red Bull junior drivers in FIA F3 this year. Igor Fraga, who narrowly beat Lawson for the 2020 Toyota Racing Series title, is expected to fill at least one of those seats.