Magherafelt teenager Fionn McLaughlin hoping to follow in the steps of Formula 1 star Eddie Irvine

Fionn McLaughlin is just 16 but he has been setting the track on fire after recently coming through a very competitive evaluation week featuring 11 aspiring young drivers from around the world.

From the group, the first drivers selected to join the programme were McLaughlin and Sweden's Scott Lindblom.

His outstanding performance on a three-day trial in Jerez, Spain, impressed Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsports Consultant and Head of the Junior Driver Program.

Red Bull Junior Team announced on Instagram that he is set to race for them in the F4 series as their team driver next season.

Currently, the Red Bull Junior Team has nine racers aged 15–19, and they will compete in the Junior Formula Series.

The team is revered across the sport of Formula 1 due to the training, care, and comprehensive support provided to the drivers in this junior program.

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 has gone on to compete successfully at British, European and world level and is currently in the OK class, representing Kart Republic as part of the VDK racing team.

McLaughlin plans to complete his karting season which consists of the following: final round of the ‘Iame X30 European Championships’ in Genk Belgium 21st – 25th of August – he is currently leading this championship going into the final round at Genk with a great chance of winning.

Final round of the ‘Champions Of The Future’ in PF International Kart Circuit - Lincolnshire, England 28th – 31st August – he currently sits 4th in this championship with a good chance of winning it at the final round.

The final karting race of Fionn’s career will be at FIA Karting World Finals - PF International Kart Circuit - Lincolnshire, England 12th – 15th of September. This is the biggest race in the world karting calendar and a race weekend in which Fionn has a very good chance in winning. He will certainly enter it as one of the favourites.

McLaughlin will complete a testing programme from October to December 2024 in preparation for commencing to race in F4 for Red Bull in Jan 2025.