Red Bull F1 junior Sette Camara makes Super Formula switch

Red Bull Formula 1 reserve Sergio Sette Camara has made a late switch to race in this season’s Super Formula series in Japan.

Camara has replaced Haas test driver and fellow Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi at Team B-Max with Motopark after a sponsorship-related issue saw Fittipaldi drop out of the team’s line-up on the eve of the 2020 campaign.

The 21-year-old, who was recently re-signed to Red Bull’s F1 junior programme as reserve driver, will now fill the seat vacated by Fittipaldi to complete the team’s line up alongside Charles Milesi to get his first taste of Japanese motorsport.

“I am confident this is the best direction for my career,” Sette Camara said.

“Super Formula are the quickest racing cars after Formula 1, and the teams here are working at the highest level.

“I want to thank B-Max with Motopark for this opportunity – I have worked with them before and I am sure we can achieve great things in this series too.”

Camara previously raced for the Motopark squad in European Formula 3 throughout 2015 and 2016, before moving up to Formula 2 the following year.

After 12th and sixth-place finishes at MP Motorsport and Carlin in 2017 and 2018, Camara enjoyed his best F2 season with DAMS in 2019, claiming two victories on his way to fourth in the standings.

Camara also acted as test and development driver for McLaren during 2019, before returning to the Red Bull fold.

Motopark boss Timo Rumpfkeil added: “I’m delighted to welcome Sergio back to our team.

“He needs no introduction: he’s one of the most exciting talents out there and it’s always a great pleasure to work with such a quality driver.

“There is a strong history between Team Motopark and Sergio – we gave him his first two seasons in Europe back in 2015 and 2016 in Formula 3 and again in Macau 2017, so it very much feels like he’s coming home.

“It will work out a clear advantage that we know him very well and vice versa, as this is going to allow us to start on a high level right from go.”

The 2020 Super Formula season is due to get underway on May 17 at Autopolis, after the opening two rounds at Suzuka and Fuji were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.