Oliver Goethe replaces Franco Colapinto at MP Motorsport

The announcement of Logan Sargeant’s departure shook up several paddocks this week, notably that of Formula 2. As the discipline returns to Monza, it has lost one of its drivers: Franco Colapinto, who has been promoted to Williams in Formula 1. Having left for the rest of the season, he has finally found his replacement at MP Motorsport.

A new talent to keep a close eye on

The news surprised many people in the sports world. Franco Colapinto joins Williams as a rookie for the remainder of the season. He, who was already a rookie this year in Formula 2, had to give up his spot at the last minute. While his departure was not necessarily expected, at MP Motorsport, the replacement has already been announced. Formula 3 driver Oliver Goethe will take the remaining spot in Formula 2.

Oliver Goethe is a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, a team dedicated to supporting young drivers until they enter Formula 1. As the discipline returns to Monza this week, he will officially make his Formula 2 debut with MP Motorsport this weekend. However, this is not the first time he has been behind the wheel of such a single-seater. While the young German driver has spent his last two seasons in the lower discipline, he has already participated in some races with Campos Racing.

Currently engaged with Campos Racing, he has already secured two wins and two podiums since the beginning of his career in Formula 3 in mid-season 2022. While currently holding the seventh position in the overall standings, he has been in contention for the championship title for a long time. Considered as one of the young talents to closely monitor, his skills have allowed him a fast promotion to Formula 2. This is not the first time, in fact. For his arrival in Formula 3, Oliver Goethe had also joined mid-season. During his very first race, he finished fourth and scored his first points.

Red Bull signs a new driver in Formula 2.

Oliver Goethe is the second Red Bull driver to join the championship. If reserve driver Isack Hadjar has already shown his talents by securing the top spot in the standings, there is still everything to prove for the young German driver. Nevertheless, even though his arrival was rushed, he is ready to take on the challenge. And this challenge begins directly in two days. “Even though I have no experience with this F2 car, my two seasons in FIA F3 have given me an excellent foundation to take this step,” said Oliver Goethe after the team’s official announcement.

The transition will not be easy and the former Campos Racing driver acknowledges it himself. Especially since he didn’t have much time to prepare. But he will do his best to acquire as much experience as possible in record time. “My goals for this weekend are to take all the information that MP Motorsport will provide me and to learn as much as possible,” he explained. “It won’t be easy, even on a circuit that I know well, because all my competitors have much more experience than me, and I received the call so late that I didn’t have the chance to do F2 simulation,” he continues. “In a way, this is reminiscent of my debut in FIA F3 in 2022.”

If Oliver Goethe is delighted with his promotion to F2, he still expresses some regret at not being able to finish his season with Campos Racing. “I am a little sad not to be able to finish my F3 season as planned. I would have liked to finish in style with my team Campos Racing. I wish them good luck as well as the drivers still in the running for the title. I will follow the races, that’s for sure,” he concluded. With a very sudden opportunity, this is the occasion for the German driver to prove that he deserves his promotion to the higher discipline.