{"id":292789,"date":"2023-10-23T15:08:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T15:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=292789"},"modified":"2023-10-23T15:08:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T15:08:59","slug":"red-bull-axe-four-drivers-as-helmut-marko-oversees-brutal-clear-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/racing\/f1\/red-bull-axe-four-drivers-as-helmut-marko-oversees-brutal-clear-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull axe four drivers as Helmut Marko oversees brutal clear-out"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Red Bull will trim four junior drivers from their ranks in Formula 2 next season with Dennis Hauger, Zane Maloney, Enzo Fittipaldi and Jak Crawford all set to lose their backing from the reigning F1 constructor champions.<\/p>\n

According to Viaplay Sport, Helmut Marko has confirmed that only Isack Hadjar and Pepe Marti will be driving in the Red Bull livery in F2 in 2024 with the latter continuing his partnership with Campos upon his graduation from Formula 3.<\/p>\n

This means that Hauger, Maloney, Fittipaldi and Crawford will all lose their backing for 2024, although it remains to be seen if any of those four will remain on the F2 grid with either another F1 driver academy or their own funding.<\/p>\n

There is also another name to consider with Ayumu Iwasa set to leave the grid as well, although it is expected that he will remain a member of the Red Bull team and make the switch to the Super Formula racing series in Japan.<\/p>\n

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Super Formula is a familiar route for Red Bull academy prospects looking to bridge the gap to the pinnacle of motorsport. Liam Lawson has been attempting a title challenge in the Japanese series in 2023 alongside his F1 duties, and Pierre Gasly also made the same move before graduating to the Toro Rosso team.<\/p>\n

These changes have been expected for some time after Christian Horner confirmed that Red Bull would trim down their backing in the feeder series ranks earlier this year, although few expected the team to cut four of their current six-driver crop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking to ESPN<\/em> about the upcoming changes, Horner had explained: “We are going to focus more on youth from now on I think. We have a lot of drivers in F2 this year. I think we are going to thin that out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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