Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 promotion to Williams has had a huge knock-on effect, as teams in the lower divisions scrambled to find replacements in both Formula 2 and 3.
His departure from MP Motorsport left the Dutch team to settle on Oliver Goethe for the rest of the 2024 campaign – a Red Bull backed driver from Campos Racing’s Formula 3 team.
Campos is yet to confirm a replacement for Goethe, but they don’t have much time before the final Formula 3 event of the season kicks off at the Italian Grand Prix.
With seven drivers in the frame for the drivers’ championship, all eyes will be on the junior formula this weekend as drivers look to stake their own claims for Formula 2 promotions ahead of next year.
What made Oliver Goethe ‘a bit sad’ ahead of a Formula 2 promotion?
Goethe’s 2024 Formula 3 campaign has been the epitome of consistent, with points scored in every round of the championship so far.
He took a Sprint Race win at Imola, where he enjoyed a double podium weekend, and was considered the seventh and last driver in with an outside shot of the title this weekend.
Speaking in a press release, he revealed his emotions after receiving a breakthrough opportunity to graduate to Formula 2.
READ MORE: Isack Hadjar closing in on equalling impressive Charles Leclerc record in F2 this season
“My goals for this weekend are to soak up all the information MP Motorsport provides me with and learn as much as I can,” he said.
“It won’t be easy even on a track I know well because all my competitors have so much more experience than me and I got the call so late that I didn’t have a chance to do simulator prep for F2, but in some way, this is similar to my FIA F3 debut in 2022, where I joined the series mid-season and scored points on my first attempt.
“I am a bit sad that I can’t finish my F3 season as planned, I would have loved to go out with a bang with my Campos Racing team. Huge thanks to Adrian Campos and the entire Campos squad for everything.“
Which challenges await Goethe in Formula 2?
There are four rounds of the Formula 2 season left, meaning that Goethe has eight races to prove himself and get ready for what will likely be a full season in 2025.
It hands him a major advantage over any of his now old Formula 3 rivals, as he gets crucial laps to get up to speed and adjusted to the notoriously difficult Pirelli rubber.
READ MORE: Franco Colapinto sends four-word message to his Formula 2 replacement after Williams F1 promotion
He’s stepping into a car that was placed sixth in the standings, but the rest of this season is more about learning and setting himself up for a positive campaign next year, than scoring points.
MP Motorsport are third in the teams’ championship, just 24 points behind the lead duo of Campos and Invicta Racing, so should still be in with a chance of claiming that title if Goethe gets up to speed quickly.
But there won’t be too much pressure on the Dane, especially as he arrives at a Monza track which he has a good level of familiarity with from prior series.