Patricio O’Ward will contest❀ the remainder of the 2019 Super Formula c♋hampionship for Mugen Honda, taking over from Dan Ticktum who has been ousted by Red Bull.

Following Ticktum’s omission from the Red Bull junior programme, Mexican O’Ward will swap his partial IndyCar campaign for the Japanese Super Formula series starting next month at Fuji Speedway, which hosts round f💜our on July 13-14, with Mugen Honda.

O’Ward, who is making his Formula 2 debut this weekend at the Red Bull Ring with MP Motorsport, is naturally relishing the opportunity as he looks to make a pos💛itive impression within the Red Bull junior programme.

“Dr. Helmut Marko spoke to me and he explained that he would like for me to do the remaining Super Formula rounds in Japan as well as possi💃bly some more F2 races if that can be arr💛anged,” O'Ward said.

“It 🅷is a huge opportunity of course and I'm very excited about it. I kn🌠ow that it will be a big challenge.

“Like coming here this weekend I do not know the tracks in Japan or the car but there is♑ more track time in a race weekend I believe. I know that culture and communications are different and the series is at a very high level so it💖 is a fantastic chance for me to learn and progress.”

Red Bull also confirmed Ticktum has been dropped from its junior pro🅺gramme.

“At this level the demands are intense,” Dr. Helmut Marko said. “Unfortunately Dan has not found the success in the Super Formula s𓄧eries that we hoped for.”

Two-time Macau Grand Prix winner Ticktum secured just one poi🍰nts finish from the opening three rounds in Super Formula, eight🎶h place at Suzuka, while he also made his F1 test debut with Red Bull last April in Bahrain.