Red Bull terminates driver contract after just four race weekends

Red Bull has dissolved its contract with FIA Formula 3 driver Kacper Sztuka just four rounds into the current campaign.

The Polish driver, who races for Dutch team MP Motorsport on the F1 support bill, confirmed Red Bull had terminated their deal.

The 18-year-old joined the Milton Keynes squad's driver academy in November 2023, having secured the Italian Formula 4 title - winning almost every race in the second half of the season.

"I wanted to share with you information about my development and further performances in Formula 3 this season. In recent weeks, the contract with Red Bull's junior program was terminated at the initiative of the partner," he wrote on X (formally Twitter) in the first of five linked posts.

The second and third posts read: "Until the end of the cooperation, my starts, functioning in the team and the progress I made were positively assessed by all people working directly with me.

"Thank you very much to everyone who has been involved in the project that I have been a part of since November 2023."

It has not been the strongest start to life in FIA F3 for Sztuka, with one points-scoring finish, in the Imola sprint race, where he came home in fifth place for six points. He is currently P19 in the drivers' standings.

He confirmed that his leaving the Red Bull driver academy would not affect his season, stating he would be continuing with MP Motorsport when the FIA F3 season resumes this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix.

"The above decision does not affect the assessment of the MP Motorsport team and our starting plans. In the 2024 season, thanks to the support of my sponsors, I intend to compete in all remaining rounds of the FIA ​​Formula 3 Championship and continue to develop as a driver both on and off the track," Sztuka added.

"My determination to be the fastest, win and one day race against the best drivers in the world remains unchanged. Thank you for all your words of support. We are entering the final stage of preparations for the race in Barcelona. See you on the track!"