Hughes to make F2 debut in Sochi as Alesi replaces Matsushita

Jake Hughes will make his FIA Formula 2 debut in Russia as he steps up to the series to replace Giuliano Alesi at HWA Racelab.

Hughes, who has competed in Formula 3 since 2016 and raced with the HWA Racelab squad for the past two seasons, will make his first appearance in F2 for this weekend’s round in Sochi.

The Briton will partner Artem Markelov in the team, with Alesi switching to MP Motorsport to contest the remainder of the 2020 season with the Dutch outfit.

“I am really looking forward to my first races in Formula 2,” said Hughes.

“The Formula 3 season finished recently after nine race weekends in eleven weeks, so I am totally in the racing routine.

“I will have to get used to the cars first, as they have significantly more power than the Formula 3 cars. But I am looking forward to taking on this challenge.”

Ferrari Driver Academy member Alesi currently sits 17th in the championship after only managing points on one occasion so far this year with a sixth-place finish at the season opener in Austria.

The 21-year-old will join two-time race winner Felipe Drugovich in MP Motorsport’s line-up for the final rounds of the campaign.

“I am super happy, excited and most of all motivated to be working with MP and starting this new adventure in Formula 2”, said Alesi.

“So I’m really looking forward to Sochi, and can’t wait to get in the car and get started.”

MP Motorsport said that Nobuharu Matsushita – who remarkably won the Barcelona feature race from 18th on the grid – “has decided to move on to fresh challenges elsewhere” and that they “part ways on good terms and wish each other every success for the future.”