India’s F1 hope to continue as Red Bull Junior Jehan to race in F2 with Carlin
Austria: Red Bull Racing have confirmed the extension of their support to Jehan Daruvala in 2021. The Indian racing star created history last month, when he successfully culminated his maiden FIA Formula 2 Championship with a well-deserved victory. The 22 year old’s victory in his rookie season was preceded by a hard fought podium a week prior.
Importantly for Indian motorsport fans, a successful season would be the right opportunity for an F1 seat for the Indian. The Red Bull Junior program has been instrumental in producing some of the world’s best F1 racers over the years including, four-time World F1 Champion - Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and many others.
Jehan’s continuation in the Red Bull Junior Program was inevitable, given his stand out performances in arguably one of the most competitive F2 seasons ever. 16 different drivers were on the podium while 12 of them won a race. Jehan was also fastest overall in the official post season testing, besides finishing on top, in 2 out of the 3 days of testing.
Jehan will continue with Carlin for his second season. His excellent points haul in the last two rounds last season, helped Carlin rise to 3rd in the Team’s Championship.
Speaking about Jehan, Team Principal Trevor Carlin added, “We’re extremely pleased that we have the opportunity to carry on the great progress we have been making with Jehan and have another attack on the FIA F2 Championship. Jehan did a great job last season as an F2 rookie, to really show his true potential by the second half of the season. To finish the year off with a third place and then a win really confirms what we knew from the start. I expect Jehan to continue where he left off – challenging for wins from the outset in the new season.”
“I am very thankful to Red Bull for their continued faith in me. I’m extremely excited to be staying in F2 and with Carlin for 2021 as a Red Bull Junior. We made a lot of progress last year. It was great to end the season on such a high with my first F2 win and then back that up with front running pace in post-season testing.” said Jehan.
He added, “I’m extremely proud to be carrying Red Bull colours again this season and thank Dr Marko and my sponsors for their continued support and belief in me which I will be looking to repay from the very first race.”
The 2021 season kicks off in Bahrain on 26th March and will now have three races at each weekend. All eight weekends continue to be run concurrently with Formula 1, ending on 12th December in Abu Dhabi. Prior to the F2 campaign, Jehan will participate in the Asian F3 Championship for the all Indian team – Mumbai Falcons.
Indian motorsport fans have been tracking Jehan’s progress from a young age and have seen him achieve milestones never achieved by any other Indian in motorsport. Everyone is waiting for the start of the 2021 season hoping that Jehan will follow Narain and Karun to become only the 3rd Indian in Formula 1.
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