Fionn McLaughlin

Biography

The 17-year-old from Northern Ireland is part of the Red Bull Academy, having joined the programme this summer after a hugely competitive evaluation as one of 11 invited candidates from around the world.

McLaughlin began karting at the age of five, and by the time he was seven he was competing in and winning various championships around Ireland.

He has since enjoyed success at British, European and world level, and spent 2024 competing in the OK class. Notable achievements include being vice-champion of the 2022 British Karting Championships and vice-champion of the 2022 Iame World Games.

Last season, McLaughlin competed in the CIK-FIA European Championships, finishing seventh overall in his first year in the category. In 2023, McLaughlin would also compete in the FIA Karting World Championship, claiming pole position in his group. Fionn would also claim three heat wins across the weekend, narrowly missing out on winning the final due to an engine failure. He also finished sixth in the 2024 FIA Karting World Championship.

As a member of Red Bull’s junior driver programme, he follows in the footsteps of Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, and his own racing role model Sebastian Vettel.

Quick-fire Q&A:
From: Londonderry, NI
At what age and in what discipline did you start out in motorsport?
Karting, aged 5
What is your biggest achievement in motorsport so far?
Joining the Red Bull junior team
Why have you chosen British F4 for 2025?
I believe this is the best championship for me to develop in as a driver
Track on the British F4 calendar you’re most looking forward to racing at?
Silverstone definitely, it is a very special place to race at
What are your hobbies and interests outside motorsport?
I play a lot of golf in my spare time and other sports like football
What is an interesting fact people may not know about you?
I was forced to stop racing at the age of 7 for one year due to an injury to my head – I am very lucky to be here after such a bad accident
Favourite food? Chicken
Pre-race hype song? Mostly rap and pop music
Dream road car? Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Favourite F1 driver/team? Sebastian Vettel
Favourite sportsperson? Sebastian Vettel
Where do you want to be in 5 years’ time? Formula 1