Red Bulletin UK-04
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The <strong>Red</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> 4 July, 2021 redbulletin.com/f1special F1 <strong>Red</strong> Bull Ring Grid 2026 13<br />
ROBERT SHWARTZMAN<br />
2021 team: Prema Racing, Formula 2<br />
2026 team: Ferrari, Formula 1<br />
The Russian has been a front runner in every series he’s<br />
entered and looks unstoppable as he makes tracks for<br />
Formula 1. He’s part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and<br />
has enjoyed huge success with Prema Racing, finishing<br />
third in F3 in his rookie season before dominating the<br />
2019 championship to take the title. In F2 last year, he<br />
was fourth in his first season, scoring more wins than<br />
any other driver. He also has the 2018 Toyota Racing<br />
Series title in his trophy cabinet. In addition, young<br />
Shwartzman is a star on social media with thousands of<br />
followers on Instagram and TikTok drawn to his sense of<br />
humour and clean cut looks, traits that make him<br />
marketable as well as quick.<br />
CALLUM ILOTT<br />
2021 team: Hitech Grand Prix, Formula 2<br />
2026 team: Alfa Romeo, Formula 1<br />
Ferrari Academy Driver Callum is an easy pick as he<br />
already has a foot in the elite series having driven in FP1<br />
for Alfa Romeo this season. A test driver for Ferrari and<br />
a reserve for Alfa who finished runner-up in F2 behind<br />
Mick Schumacher, it seems more a case of when and not<br />
if Ilott will step into F1. The only obstacle in his path is<br />
the number of other British drivers already on the grid –<br />
while Lewis Hamilton may have hung up his gloves by<br />
2026, George Russell and Lando Norris aren’t about to<br />
leave. But by 2026, we’re sure he’ll have a place with Alfa<br />
Romeo although he might have already become the first<br />
Brit to race for Ferrari since Nigel ‘Il Leone’ Mansell.<br />
Robert (21) Callum (22)<br />
Liam (19) Arthur (20)<br />
LIAM LAWSON<br />
2021 team: Hitech Grand Prix, Formula 2<br />
2026 team: Scuderia AlphaTauri, Formula 1<br />
On the other side of the Hitech garage is another firstrate<br />
talent. Liam Lawson got his F2 career off to the best<br />
possible start with victory on his debut in the first sprint<br />
race of 2021. He’s the 2019 Toyota Racing Series<br />
champion and narrowly missed out on the 2020 title.<br />
Liam faces stiff competition racing Jüri Vips for a place<br />
with AlphaTauri or <strong>Red</strong> Bull Racing – assuming there will<br />
be a seat available with either – but talent rises to the<br />
top and Lawson is an eye-catching driver. New Zealand<br />
has a proud tradition of producing superb drivers –<br />
Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Denny Hulme through to<br />
Nick Cassidy, Marcus Armstong and Brendon Hartley.<br />
Liam, the latest, is mentored by another, Kenny Smith.<br />
This year he’s also racing in DTM with Cassidy and Alex<br />
Albon as part of <strong>Red</strong> Bull AF Corse and won at the first<br />
time of asking in the opening race at Monza last month.<br />
ARTHUR LECLERC<br />
2021 team: Prema Racing, Formula 3<br />
2026 team: Haas, Formula 1<br />
You always need brothers trading paint in Formula 1<br />
and we haven’t seen any fraternal rivalry in F1 since<br />
Michael and Ralph Schumacher. Another member of the<br />
Ferrari Driver Academy, Arthur Leclerc may raise a few<br />
eyebrows as he’s only just stepped into F3 as the runnerup<br />
in the new Formula Regional series. There may be<br />
stronger candidates elsewhere but with a brother at<br />
Ferrari already, Arthur boasts an impressive pedigree.<br />
He’s also managed by Nicholas Todt, who knows his way<br />
around the F1 paddock having mentored Charles Leclerc<br />
and managed the careers of Felipe Massa and Daniil<br />
Kvyat. Arthur has risen rapidly up to F3 and if he can<br />
prove his mettle there, he will be well on the way<br />
to Formula 1.
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