SMP Racing’s Matevos Isaakyan will replace the injured Juan Manuel Correa at the complete Sauber Junior Team by Charouz for the rest of 2019.
Matevos Issakyan has been confirmed as Juan Manuel Correa’s replacement for the final two rounds of this year’s Formula 2 Championship. Correa, who is in hospital in serious but stable condition following the tragic accident between himself and Arden’s Anthoine Hubert at last months’ Belgian Grand Prix, will not be racing again any time soon, meaning Charouz have signed a replacement to finish the season.
Charouz ran a sole entry for the Italian round two weeks ago, with Callum Ilott at the wheel. Ilott will thus team up with Isaakyan for the Russian and Abu Dhabi rounds that finish out the Formula 2 calendar for 2019.
Issakyan competed in the 2016 GP3 season, before switching to the 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 Championship as well as racing for SMP Racing’s LMP1 squad at the final four races of the World Endurance Championship.
“I’m excited to drive in the F2 championship, especially in my home Grand Prix.” Isaakyan said. “This is quite an unexpected development in my season but I’m very thankful for this opportunity and happy to join the team.
“It won’t be an easy job as I’ll be jumping straight in the car for Sochi practice. The biggest thing will be understanding the tyres – that will be the main focus for me as it was when I did GP3. But I don’t think it will be an impossible task to try and get into the top-ten and score some points.”
Antonin Charouz, Charouz Racing System owner, added: “We’re pleased to welcome Matevos to the team for his home F2 race in Russia and also the final round in Abu Dhabi.
“He has a proven pedigree in single-seater racing and we’re excited to see him join the F2 grid. It’s always a difficult situation when one driver stands in for another but we’re ready to do our best and to finish the season positively.”