Photo: Diederik van der Laan/Dutch Photo Agency
Matevos Isaakyan will race for Sauber Junior Team by Charouz in the remaining Formula 2 rounds of 2019, standing in for the injured Juan Manuel Correa at Sochi and Abu Dhabi.
The SMP Racing-backed Russian last raced single-seaters in 2017, when he finished second to Pietro Fittipaldi in World Series Formula V8 3.5. Previously, the 21-year-old had raced in GP3, Formula Renault Eurocup and Toyota Racing Series.
In 2017, Isaakyan joined SMP Racing’s sportcar programme and raced in the World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series. He was replaced by former Formula 1 driver Sergey Sirotkin in the team’s line-up this year.
?I?m excited to drive in the Formula 2 championship, especially in my home grand prix,? said Isaakyan.
?This is quite an unexpected development in my season, but I?m very thankful for this opportunity and happy to join the team. It won?t be an easy job as I?ll be jumping straight in the car for Sochi practice.
“The biggest thing will be understanding the tyres ? that will be the main focus for me as it was when I did GP3.
?But I don?t think it will be an impossible task to try and get into the top 10 and score some points.?
Isaakyan joins the F2 grid in place of Alfa Romeo Junior Correa, who remains in intensive care with leg injuries and breathing complications after being involved in the crash that claimed Anthoine Hubert?s life at Spa-Francorchamps.
?We?re pleased to welcome Matevos to the team for his home F2 race in Russia and also the final round in Abu Dhabi,? said team owner Antonin Charouz.
?He has a proven pedigree in single seater racing and we?re excited to see him join the F2 grid. It?s always a difficult situation when one driver standings in for another, but we?re ready to do our best and to finish the season positively.?