In recent times, young German racer Oliver Goethe – known for his fiery performance in Formula 2 – has been likened to F1 legend James Hunt by none other than Helmut Marko, the head honcho of Red Bull’s driver program. However, it’s not Hunt’s “intensity” that Goethe is compared to, but rather his “approach” to the sport.
Responding to this comparison, Goethe emphasized his unrelenting commitment to the forthcoming Formula 2 season, stating, “I’ve been working my butt off.” This comes after an eventful 2024 season, which saw Marko publicly critiquing Goethe’s attitude.
The young driver’s journey took a significant leap in the previous year when he transitioned from Campos to MP Motorsport in Formula 2 after Franco Colapinto was promoted to Formula 1 by Williams, replacing Logan Sargeant. Goethe’s most notable achievement was a P4 finish in the Qatar feature race. However, this didn’t seem to entirely appease Marko, who expressed his dissatisfaction in an interview with Motorsport-Total.com, stressing that Goethe must show more seriousness in his profession.
Nevertheless, Red Bull decided to keep Goethe on board for the 2025 season, and the young racer is gearing up for his first full season in Formula 2 with MP Motorsport, a team known for securing Drivers’ and Teams’ title double with Felipe Drugovich in 2022.
When PlanetF1.com asked Goethe about his experience as a Red Bull junior and Marko’s critique, he expressed positivity about being a part of the academy and acknowledged the support he has received. He also affirmed his preparedness for the upcoming season, stating, “I’ve been working my butt off with training and with sim also. So I feel like I’m very ready for this year.”
The 2025 Formula 2 grid will also feature other Red Bull juniors, including Arvid Lindblad and Pepe Marti. Lindblad, a 17-year-old British driver, is already being touted as Red Bull’s potential “next champion” by Marko. He’s also speculated to be a potential F1 driver for Red Bull’s second team VCARB in 2026, especially after Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull, hinted at 2025 being the last year for Yuki Tsunoda with the junior team. Lindblad has already made his mark in 2025, clinching the Formula Regional Oceania crown after winning the esteemed Macau Grand Prix in the previous year.
When asked about his goals for the season, Lindblad maintained a focused and determined stance, stating, “I expect a lot from myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself. So I’m very focused on working hard and trying to be competitive and have a good year.” And so, as the racing world watches, the stage is set for an exciting, potentially career-defining 2025 Formula 2 season.
