Making the move into Formula 4 aged just 14 is a dream come true for the American teenager from Texas, Jak Crawford. He was recently made a Red Bull Junior and will contest the season in ADAC Formula 4 and its Italian counterpart with Dutch outfit, Van Amersfoort Racing. He will join Jonny Edgar at Van Amersfoort, who is also on Red Bull’s training programme for juniors.

The sixth season of the ADAC Formula 4 will kick off on the weekend of April 24th-26th in Oschersleben. SPORT1 will again broadcast the ADAC High-Speed Academy's races on TV this year. In accordance with the sporting regulations, Crawford cannot compete until after his 15th birthday which is on May 2nd and will thus make his debut during the second race weekend at the Nürburgring (May 21st-24th) when the ADAC Formula 4 stages its races within the context of the 24 hour race.

"I'm mega excited and am already looking forward to the challenge," says Crawford: "Red Bull have placed a lot of trust in me, which makes me feel very proud. It hasn’t quite registered yet that very soon, some of Europe’s most famous Formula 1 circuits will be my workplace."

Crawford has already won many titles in karting, having first taken up the sport when he was six. He contested his first races in a single-seater as a 13-year-old, lining up in Formula 4 in North and Central America.

Moving to Europe is a huge decision to take. Crawford himself calls it his "biggest challenge" but he will have the support of Van Amersfoort. "I can’t wait to get started," said the young Texan. Rob Niessink, CEO at Van Amersfoort Racing, sees "a very intensive year ahead for Jak" adding: "Yes indeed, he is very young, but we see great potential in him. Jak is very smart and has already made a big impression on us. We will help him and do everything in our power to make his move a success."