A rising star within the Red Bull racing program has officially signed a full-time contract with the team, set to take effect for the 2025 season. This announcement follows months of speculation surrounding Red Bull’s driver lineup, both for their main Formula 1 team and their sister team, VCARB, as the team has navigated a challenging 2024 season.
Throughout the year, much attention has been focused on Red Bull’s driver situation. In particular, the performance of Sergio Perez, who races alongside Max Verstappen for the main team, has been under scrutiny. Perez has struggled to maintain form, raising questions about his future with the team. His last podium finish came in April at the Chinese Grand Prix, and he has managed to collect only 13 points in his last eight races, a significant drop in performance compared to his earlier results.
These struggles have fueled ongoing rumors about potential changes within the Red Bull camp, with many wondering if Perez’s position is secure heading into 2025. Meanwhile, the focus has shifted to some of Red Bull’s promising young drivers, who are poised to make the step up to more prominent roles within the team. Among those tipped for future success are Liam Lawson and Formula 2 stars Isack Hadjar and Oliver Goethe, all of whom have been part of Red Bull’s junior driver development program.
Goethe, in particular, has attracted attention after an impressive season in Formula 3 that saw him contend for the title. His strong performance earned him a promotion to Formula 2 earlier this year, where he replaced Franco Colapinto at MP Motorsport. Colapinto, in turn, was given an opportunity to join Williams on the Formula 1 grid, allowing Goethe to step up and showcase his talents at the next level of competition.
In an official statement, Red Bull confirmed that Oliver Goethe will remain with MP Motorsport for the 2025 season, securing a full-time contract to compete in Formula 2. He will team up with Dutch driver Richard Verschoor, and together, they will look to build on the momentum Goethe has already established during his time with the team this year.
Expressing his excitement about the new contract, Goethe said, “I’m truly delighted to continue with MP Motorsport in 2025. It’s the logical thing to do—my four F2 rounds with MP this season will provide me with valuable experience working with the team and with Richard too, as we use that as a stepping stone towards next year’s full-season Formula 2 effort together.”
Goethe, who first started his career in single-seaters with MP Motorsport five years ago, also reflected on how special it felt to return to the team. “I’ve enjoyed many good times with the team when I started out in single-seaters five years ago, and on my return at Monza I was made to feel at home immediately,” he said. “I can’t wait to go racing one more time in Abu Dhabi before preparing for our 2025 challenge.”
This announcement solidifies Red Bull’s commitment to nurturing their young talent, as Goethe looks set to play a key role in the future of the team. His promotion to a full-time role in Formula 2 will provide him with a crucial opportunity to further develop his skills and gain more experience in preparation for a potential step up to Formula 1 in the coming years.
As the 2024 season comes to a close, Red Bull continues to evaluate its options for the future, particularly with regards to its Formula 1 lineup. Perez’s uncertain position, coupled with the emergence of several strong candidates from Red Bull’s junior program, has set the stage for potential changes ahead of 2025. Fans and analysts will be keeping a close eye on the team as they make decisions that could shape the next chapter of their racing dominance.
In the meantime, Goethe’s confirmed seat for the 2025 Formula 2 season represents another significant development in Red Bull’s ongoing efforts to develop young drivers who can eventually compete at the highest level of motorsport. His partnership with Verschoor at MP Motorsport promises to be an exciting prospect, and many will be watching closely as he takes on the challenges of a full Formula 2 season next year.
