County Derry teenager named as part of Hitech GP’s British Formula 4 line-up

County Derry teenager Fionn McLaughlin will be part of Hitech GP’s British Formula 4 line-up next year, it has been confirmed.

The 17-year-old Magherafelt boy primarily raced on OK karts this year, coming third in the Champions of the Future series and sixth in the CIK-FIA European and World championships. On X30 Senior karts he was IAME Euro Series runner-up, missing out on the title and 34th in the IAME Winter Cup.

McLaughlin began karting at the age of five, and by the time he was seven was competing in and winning in various championships around Ireland.

He will be teammate to Thomas Bearman, younger brother of Formula 1 and Formula 2 racer Ollie, in British F4.

“My goal in racing is to be a F1 world champion and joining Hitech is the next step in my development path,” said McLaughlin.

“I never give up and work hard until I’m at the top and this is why Hitech is the perfect step because watching them over the last few years they are always winning and I look forward to that being me soon.”

“Fionn is an exciting young talent and we’re pleased to welcome him to Hitech for the 2025 British F4 season,” added Dominic Stott, Hitech’s British F4 team manager.

“The transition from karting is always a real test but Fionn has shown a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to seeing him make the step up to the start of a promising single-seater career.”

McLaughlin was signed by Red Bull in August after contesting a shootout test at Jerez in which he drove a Formula 4 and a GP3 car.