New Zealander Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull alongside world champion Max Verstappen following the team’s decision to ditch Sergio Perez.
The announcement that Lawson was moving up from second team Racing Bulls came a day after Red Bull announced they were dropping Perez following a weak season.
The 22-year-old moves into the Formula 1 front-line after just 11 grands prix spread over two seasons.
Although Lawson has not convincingly beaten team-mate Yuki Tsunoda over that period, Red Bull preferred him to the Japanese.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he’s not only capable of delivering strong results but that he’s also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top.”