MP Motorsport sign F3 race winner Zendeli for 2021

Lirim Zendeli will make the step up to Formula 2 in 2021 with MP Motorsport. The German driver will make his F2 debut on the back of a win and two pole positions in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

The 21-year-old got his first taste of F2 when he took part in the post-season test at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit last week, driving for MP Motorsport all three days. Setting the sixth fastest time on the third day of the test, the experience was convincing enough for him to sign with the Dutch team.

“I’m very happy to be driving for MP Motorsport for my first year in Formula 2”, said Zendeli. “With four victories, they showed true race-winning form in 2020, and I am eager to add to their success in 2021.

“The Bahrain test with the team proved to be extremely productive, so I’m confident that we will be able to feature right at the front as soon as the season gets underway.”

Zendeli progressed from karts in 2016, debuting in German F4, a series in which he took fourth in 2017 and won the title in 2018, in the process collecting 13 wins, 18 podiums and 11 pole positions over the two seasons combined.

After a points-scoring debut season in F3 in 2019, Zendeli took his first win, three podiums and two pole positions in this year’s F3 season, showing that he is now ready to make the step up.

“It’s a real pleasure to welcome Lirim to our team”, said Sander Dorsman, team principal at MP Motorsport. “Lirim’s talent was obvious to us from the moment that he started winning in German Formula 4 back in 2017.

“We worked very well together in last week’s test, and I’m looking forward to a season that will hopefully see us challenge for wins. I’m sure he will do well in his debut season in Formula 2.”