Vips and Lawson join Hitech in F2 for 2021 season
Red Bull junior duo Juri Vips and Liam Lawson will compete in Formula 2 for Hitech GP in 2021
Both Vips and Lawson have driven for Hitech in F3 in the past, in 2019 and 2020 respectively, and tested the squad's F2 car in Bahrain last month.
2021 would mark Vips' first full season in F2 after the Estonian appeared in four rounds last year for DAMS, taking a best finish of third in the Mugello sprint race.
The 20-year-old was originally due to race in Super Formula last season, but was forced to cancel those plans due to the coronavirus pandemic and instead ending up competing selected rounds in both F2 and F3 Regional Europe.
"I'm really looking forward to working with Hitech again," said Vips.
"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!"
For Lawson, F2 is the next step in his career progression after he finished fifth in F3 last year, scoring three wins over the course of the season.
The Kiwi will dovetail his F2 commitments with a full season campaign in the DTM, where he will race a Ferrari 488 GT3 alongside Alex Albon.
"I'm excited to be racing in F2 with Hitech this year," added Lawson.
"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!"
Hitech will also field Red Bull juniors in F3 this year, signing Ayumu Iwasa and Jak Crawford.
Iwasa is a new member of the Red Bull driver development programme and moves up to F3 on the back of a title-winning campaign in French F4 last year.
"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."
Crawford finished runner-up to Jonny Edgar in ADAC F4 in 2020, and will also step up the ladder with Hitech this year.
"I am very happy to spend the 2021 FIA F3 season with Hitech GP," said Crawford. "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.
Espargaro: MotoGP "needs to think about" better managing hotter races
Espargaro: MotoGP "needs to think about" better managing hotter races Espargaro: MotoGP "needs to think about" better managing hotter races
10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Indian Grand Prix
10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Indian Grand Prix 10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Indian Grand Prix
How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle
How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle
Discover how LEGO® Technic™ can reveal the secrets behind F1 engineering
Discover how LEGO® Technic™ can reveal the secrets behind F1 engineering Discover how LEGO® Technic™ can reveal the secrets behind F1 engineering
IndyCar race winner Kirkwood signs extension with Andretti Global
IndyCar race winner Kirkwood signs extension with Andretti Global IndyCar race winner Kirkwood signs extension with Andretti Global
Why Ferrari doesn’t agree with McLaren F1 fairytale revival
Why Ferrari doesn’t agree with McLaren F1 fairytale revival Why Ferrari doesn’t agree with McLaren F1 fairytale revival
Why Honda MotoGP team wouldn't block Marc Marquez's exit
Why Honda MotoGP team wouldn't block Marc Marquez's exit Why Honda MotoGP team wouldn't block Marc Marquez's exit
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022 Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
The next steps for France's latest F1 hopeful after an F2 title miss
The next steps for France's latest F1 hopeful after an F2 title miss The next steps for France's latest F1 hopeful after an F2 title miss
The remarkable career turnaround of an ever-improving F2 talent
The remarkable career turnaround of an ever-improving F2 talent The remarkable career turnaround of an ever-improving F2 talent
What the future holds for two Red Bull juniors fighting in the F2 battleground
What the future holds for two Red Bull juniors fighting in the F2 battleground What the future holds for two Red Bull juniors fighting in the F2 battleground
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
The on-form F1 protege carrying America's hopes on his shoulders
The on-form F1 protege carrying America's hopes on his shoulders The on-form F1 protege carrying America's hopes on his shoulders
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.