Rising Kiwi motorsport prospect Liam Lawson is one step close to his Formula One dream.
The Red Bull Junior Team driver will race for the Hitech GP team in Formula Two this year - the category below F1.
Hitech GP is the feeder team to Red Bull racing and Alpha Tauri - both owned and run by the motorsport wing of the Austrian energy drink company.
Lawson performed above expectations in 2020, driving for Hitech in the F3 championship.
The Hastings native scored several pole positions and three race wins during the campaign - good enough for fifth in the championship.
Red Bull Racing has a history of promoting youth from within, uncovering the likes of Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly.
Lawson will be joined by fellow Red Bull Junior Team driver Jüri Vip, who is entering his second F2 campaign.
"I’m excited to be racing in F2 with Hitech this year," Lawson says.
"Following two years of Formula 3, I feel prepared to be in this championship and do a good job for the team."
Lawson aced his litmus test in Bahrain at the end of the 2020 season, impressing Red Bull boss Christian Horner enough to earn a promotion.
"I learned a lot in the test and had a good feeling with the car.,” he said.
"This being said, there's definitely still a lot more to learn, so I am looking forward to the challenge ahead."
Round 1 of the Formula 2 Championship is set to take place in Bahrain, from March 26.
