Oliver Goethe was left with a sense of what could have been after he was dropped from the Red Bull Junior Team, his performances having picked up following that decision.<\/p>\n
Into his second season as a Formula 2 driver, and now without F1 team affiliation, Goethe admitted that he sees 2026 as his last chance to make it to Formula 1. If he delivers, then he is confident that \u201copportunities\u201d will open up for him.<\/p>\n
Oliver Goethe reflects on Red Bull exit and F1 chances<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Goethe, the 21-year-old, London-born German racer, was picked up by the Red Bull Junior Team ahead of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n That year he finished seventh in the Formula 3 Championship, and retained Red Bull\u2019s backing as he made the full-time step up to Formula 2 for 2025.<\/p>\n Goethe was unable to make the podium in F2 2025, and that proved to be his final year as a Red Bull junior.<\/p>\n When asked by PlanetF1.com about his split from Red Bull, Goethe explained the timeline behind Red Bull\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n Goethe scored points three times across the opening nine rounds, a struggle for form which Goethe says sealed his fate.<\/p>\n He scored four times across the final five rounds, which included a pair of P5 results in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n \u201cThat came about purely, really, on the first half of the season last year. I was missing some pace,\u201d said Goethe of his Red Bull exit.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the opportunity they gave me.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told, let\u2019s say, halfway through the season, and that\u2019s when I started to be quicker. So who knows what could have happened if they gave me a bit more time.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Red Bull from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Helmut Marko still \u2018open and available\u2019 for Red Bull guidance after exit \u2013 Mekies<\/a><\/p>\n Daniel Ricciardo grateful Red Bull made retirement decision he could not<\/a><\/p>\n Goethe has continued in F2 for 2026, in what is his second year with MP Motorsport.<\/p>\n He finished P4 in the Melbourne Feature Race, that the only round to have taken place thus far.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands that alterations to the F2 schedule are being discussed, after the planned visits to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled.<\/p>\n No longer backed by Red Bull, Goethe believes he is in last chance saloon territory for his Formula 1 ambitions.<\/p>\n But, despite that lack of F1 team affiliation, he is convinced that he can make \u201copportunities\u201d for himself.<\/p>\n Gabriel Bortoleto arguably serves as inspiration. He was not linked with any F1 team when he won the 2024 F2 title. Sauber came knocking after that achievement, and Bortoleto has remained for the team\u2019s Audi F1 evolution, after an impressive rookie season.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t necessarily think there\u2019s less pressure. I think there\u2019s always a pressure to get results,\u201d Goethe continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is probably my last chance to make Formula 1 this year. It\u2019s my second year. It\u2019s unrealistic to get a chance in your third year.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m just going to go out there and give it everything, like I do always. So whether I\u2019m Red Bull or not, I\u2019m going to give my absolute best.<\/p>\n \u201cI think opportunities will come if I get the results.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n