Alexander Albon is to drive for Toro Rosso alongside Daniil Kvyat in the 2019 Formula One season.
The 22-year-old British-born driver has been paired with the Russian in Red Bull’s feeder team after an impressive season in F2.
Albon finished third in the F1 feeder championship despite being involved in a start-line collision at the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Albon, who won four races in F2 this year, began his career in karts and joined the Red Bull programme in 2012 before being released at the end of the season. In 2016 he finished second in the GP3 series before stepping up to F2.
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said: “Alexander had an impressive Formula Two season in 2018. The way he is able to overtake many of his rivals in the races shows that he is ready and matured to race in Formula One.
“Scuderia Toro Rosso is very much looking forward to 2019, as with Daniil and Alex we have two young, very strong and competitive drivers.”
Albon said: “It’s such an amazing feeling to know that I’m in Formula 1 next year. Throughout my single-seater career, I went through a few ups and downs. I was dropped by Red Bull in 2012, so from then I knew my road to Formula One was going to be a lot harder.
“I worked really hard and tried to impress every time I got in the car, and I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull and Dr (Helmut) Marko for believing in me and giving me a second chance. I’ve always been motorsport mad and since I first got in a car it’s been my dream to be in Formula One. To be given this opportunity is just incredible.”
