Sebastian Montoya, the son of former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, has joined the Red Bull F1 junior team for 2023.
Seventeen-year-old Sebastian Montoya, the son of seven-time F1 winner Juan Pablo Monroya, was previously signed as a Red Bull athlete but will be supported as a driver for the Red Bull Junior team from 2023. .
Red Bull F1 motorsport adviser Helmut Marko said in a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport that Sebastian Montoya would step up to FIA F3, although a seat for 2023 has yet to be announced. Over the next two months, he will be competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Hitech.
Sebastian Montoya made his first FIA F3 entry in 2022 at Zandvoort replacing the injured Hunter Jaeny, scoring seven points in the opening weekend. At F3’s post-season testing at Jerez in November, he joined Gabriele Mini, who has been announced as part of Hitech’s 2023 line-up.
“I am thrilled to announce that I am now part of the official Red Bull Junior Team,” wrote Sebastian Montoya on Instagram.
“Over the past year, we have become part of the brand’s athletes, and now we are working together for the ultimate goal: Formula 1.”
In 2021, Sebastian Montoya, who finished 4th in Italian F4 and 9th in ADAC F4, will enter the Formula Regional European Championship in 2022 with Prema in 13th place and Mumbai in the Formula Regional Asian Championship. Entered for Falcons India Racing and finished 7th.
He also competed in several IMSA rounds in the LMP2 category. He raced with his father, Juan Pablo Montoya, in the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Petit Le Mans and the 6 Hours of the Glen.
Montoya is the third driver to recently join the Red Bull F1 junior team, following Zane Maloney and Enzo Fittipaldi, who finished second in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Zayn Maloney will step up to FIA F2 for 2022, while Enzo Fittipaldi will enter his second full season with Carlin.
The trio joins Liam Lawson, Ayumu Iwasa, Ewan Darubala, Dennis Hauger, Isaac Hajar, Jack Crawford and Johnny Edgar.
Liam Lawson, who finished FIA F2 in 3rd place in 2022, will participate in Super Formula in Japan in 2023 after spending two seasons in F2. Ayumu Iwasa will remain in DAMS and have two seasons in FIA F2.
Dennis Hauger moves from Prema to MP Motorsport and Johnny Edgar moves from Trident to MP Motorsport for his second year in FIA F3.
Aijak Hajar and Jack Crawford’s plans have yet to be confirmed, but both have been in F2’s post-season testing in Abu Dhabi with Hitech.
