Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Red Bull junior and newly crowned British Formula 4 champion Fionn McLaughlin will make the jump to FIA Formula 3 next year with Hitech.
The Irish driver, who turns 18 later this month, was signed by Red Bull through its relaunched Driver Search initiative in 2024 while he was still racing karts.
His single-seater debut came with Hitech in the Formula Winter Series at the start of this year where he won three races and finished third in the standings. He was then a contender from the start of the British F4 season, taking five wins and wrapping up the title during last weekend’s final round at Brands Hatch.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve achieved this year – it’s already been a whirlwind journey from karting to single-seaters, and now stepping up to FIA Formula 3 with Hitech is a dream come true,” he said.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, especially Hitech and the Red Bull Junior Team for their trust and belief in my potential.
“This next step is a huge opportunity for me. The competition will be tough, but I feel ready for the challenge. I’ve learned so much this season, from adapting quickly to different circuits and managing the pressures of race weekends, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward and proving myself. My goal is to continue progressing and make the most of every chance I get on the path to Formula 1.”
Paul Bellringer, Hitech’s F3 team manager, said the squad had been “consistently impressed by [McLaughlin’s] speed, maturity, and racecraft” this year.
“His rapid development and ability to adapt to different challenges – such as new circuits, F1-grade tracks like Silverstone GP and Zandvoort, and varying track conditions – will stand him in good stead for FIA Formula 3,” he added.
“We’re confident Fionn is ready for this next important step in his career, and we look forward to supporting his continued development as he aims for the top.”
McLaughlin completes Hitech’s F3 line-up for 2026, joining Toyota-backed Formula Regional racer Jin Nakamura and Euroformula driver Michael Shin.