Dennis Hauger will join MP Motorsport for the 2023 F2 season. The Norwegian driver, currently with PREMA, had already confirmed he’d be with a new team next season.
There’s still one round of the 2022 F2 season left to run, but Hauger and PREMA have endured a difficult campaign. Expectations were high heading into the season after Hauger clinched the F3 crown with PREMA in 2021.
Despite winning the sprint in Monaco and the feature race in Baku – book-ended with podium finishes in the sprint races at Imola and Zandvoort – consistent points finishes have been hard to come by. Because of this, the Red Bull junior currently sits P11 in the drivers’ standings.
A fresh start
Joining MP Motorsport is a fresh start for the 19-year-old, and he will no doubt expect to mount a title charge next year. The team has proven it has a race-winning package and Hauger will be hoping to seamlessly step into the boots of the departing Felipe Drugovich.
Additionally, MP Motorsport have announced that Hauger will be in their car for the F2 post-season test in Abu Dhabi later this month. Speaking of the new opportunity, Hauger said:
“I am really excited about joining MP Motorsport for another assault on the FIA Formula 2 Championship”
He went on to add: “MP has been the revelation of this season, consistently producing a great car for every round of the season. We have recognised that, and it’s wonderful news that we have been able to make the deal work.
“I’m looking forward to working with the team starting at the Abu Dhabi test, which I hope will be our jump start to a very successful 2023 season.”
MP Motorsport Team Principal, Sander Dorsman, believes that Hauger’s success in F3 and rookie season in F2 has laid the groundwork for a more consistent second season:
“We are absolutely delighted that someone of Dennis’ calibre will be part of our Formula 2 programme in 2023. His 2021 Formula 3 title year is still fresh on my mind – he made no prisoners and was truly outstanding.
“With the knowledge and experience that he has gained in his F2 rookie season, I’m positive that he will translate those into consistent pace-setting form and more results like the ones he produced at Monaco and Baku this year.”
See also
The second MP Motorsport seat
Hauger’s current teammate at PREMA, Jehan Daruvala, has also been linked with a move to MP Motorsport, whilst incumbent, Clement Novalak, is rumoured to be returning to Trident, who he raced with in F3.
Like Hauger, Daruvala, who is also part of the Red Bull setup, has had a disappointing year. Although the Indian driver sits P5 in the championship and has picked up seven podiums, he didn’t win a race until the most recent round, at Monza. A combination of bad luck and driver errors has prevented him from fighting in the title battle.
Whilst Hauger will be attempting to end the year in the top 10, MP Motorsport – having already wrapped up the Drivers’ Championship – still have it all to play for.
Heading into the F2 finale in Abu Dhabi, the team is level on points with ART Grand Prix at the top of the F2 Teams’ Championship.
MP Motorsport first competed in GP2, the predecessor to F2, in 2013. Prior to 2022, the Dutch outfit has finished a constructor’s best P6 on three occasions – each achieved in the F2 era, which began in 2017.
Featured Image Credit: @PREMA_Team on Twitter
