Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Rafael Villagomez will return with the team for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 campaign.
The Mexican driver finished his rookie season in the Championship last year with 24 points and a best finish of seventh in the Melbourne Feature Race.
It continues his affiliation with the team after spending three season racing with them in FIA F3, having also finished eighth in 2021 edition of the Euroformula Open in VAR colours.
Speaking about his confirmation for the 2025 season, Villagomez said he was excited to continue the work he and VAR have done in F2 so far.
I’m extremely excited to stay and carry on in Formula 2 with VAR. Important year for myself and the team. Towards the end of the year things started shape up better so I’m looking forward to carry on. A lot of work has been done over the winter so I’m looking forward to start testing and Barcelona. Villagomez on the news.
We’re excited to have Rafa stay with our FIA Formula 2 team for the upcoming season. He made significant progress last year, and we’re excited to continue working together to further his development. We’re confident he’ll build on his performances and achieve better results. Brad Joyce, Van Amerfoort Racing Team Principal.
Rodin Motorsport have finalised their line-up for the upcoming Formula 2 season with Alexander Dunne set to race alongside Christian Mansell for them in 2025.
Dunne steps up to F2 after a rookie year in Formula 3 which he achieved two podiums, coming in the Barcelona and Monza Sprint Races, going on to finish 14th in the Drivers’ Championship.
Prior to that, the McLaren Development Driver Programme member won the 2022 British F4 title and also finished as runner-up in Italian F4 that year and in the 2023 GB3 Championship.
The Irishman will now be moving up to Formula 2 with Rodin Motorsport in 2025 having driven for the team on all three days of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi last year.
I’m pleased to be able to confirm my plans for the 2025 season, which will see me joining Rodin Motorsport and participating in Formula 2. I’m looking forward to the upcoming season and thankful for everyone’s support in getting me to this stage – I can’t wait to hit the ground running. Dunne on the news.
We are delighted to welcome Alex to Rodin Motorsport. Alex’s talent, dedication, and passion for racing align perfectly with our team’s values and ambitions. We are confident that he will make a significant impact in the upcoming season and know that he is capable of enjoying a really great season with the team. Benn Huntingford, Rodin Motorsport Sporting Director and Team Manager.
AIX Racing has confirmed Cian Shields for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season.
Shields raced for AIX Racing in the two final rounds of the 2024 season, as he got his preparations for his step up to F2 early. He will continue with the team alongside Joshua Duerksen, who was confirmed in mid-December.
Last season, Shields completed his rookie campaign in FIA Formula 3, securing a best finish of 14th. Overall he finished 30th out of 30 drivers.
Back in 2023, he took part in the Euroformula Open Championship, where he finished as runner-up where he grabbed four wins and 10 podiums from 23 races.
I’m super excited to be competing in FIA Formula 2 with AIX Racing for 2025! I can’t wait to get started and push myself to new limits this season and super excited to get to work, we worked very well together at the end of last year. A huge thank you to the team for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity to race under their colours. Cian Shields on the news.
John Bennett will be stepping up to FIA Formula 2 this season with Van Amersfoort Racing the team has confirmed.
Bennett took part in the final two rounds of the 2024 season for the Dutch team, he scored points in Lusail and then drove for the team during post-season testing around the Yas Marina Circuit.
The British driver made his single seater debut in 2022, racing in the GB3 Championship before making his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine bow in 2024. Bennett also drove for VAR during the post-season Formula 3 tests in October.
Speaking about his step up to Formula 2 for 2025, the British driver said he was raring to get going.
I am delighted to be racing with VAR in Formula 2 for 2025. Since my first day testing in F3, it has been a great environment to work in. Thank you to the team for all their support, and I cannot wait to get started next year! Bennett on the news.
We are delighted to welcome John to our full-time Formula 2 line-up for 2025. His progression through the final rounds of the 2024 season demonstrated his ability to quickly adapt in challenging conditions. The team is certain that he is ready for this next step. We look forward to supporting him throughout the season as he continues to grow and compete at one of the highest levels of motorsport. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Team Principal.
The Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, set to take place in Madrid from 2026 to 2035, will also feature the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 Championships.
The ten year agreement brings the lower-tier F1 categories to Madrid, enriching the fan experience with not only the thrill of top-tier racing but also the opportunity to witness the merging talents on the road to Formula 1.
This agreement was signed by FIA F2 and FIA F3 CEO Bruno Michel, Jose Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA Madrid, Daniel Martinez, Executive Vice-President of IFEMA Madrid and Luis Garcia Abad, General Director of IFEMA Madrid.
Having both Formula 2 and Formula 3 racing on the same weekend as Formula 1 underscores the commitment of the Spanish GP organisers to deliver a sporting and entertainment experience for fans.
I am extremely happy to bring F2 and F3 to Madrid, at this exciting new venue. It’s important that the young drivers in both our championships get to race on as many F1 tracks as possible. With the addition of Madrid to the Formula 1 calendar, it was logical that F2 and F3 would follow suit. I am really looking forward to our cars providing the spectators with some thrilling racing. Bruno Michel on the news.
At IFEMA Madrid, we are very proud to bring F2 and F3 to our Grand Prix alongside F1, as our goal is to make the F1 Spanish Grand Prix 2026-2035 the best event possible. The FIA F2 and FIA F3 categories are fundamental for the future of the sport, as they produce the future stars of F1. This makes the Spanish Grand Prix 2026-2035 an even more unmissable event, offering fans a complete experience full of talent, spectacle, and excitement, with a unique motorsport offering. Jose Vicente de los Mozos adds.
AIX Racing have confirmed that Joshua Duerksen will be joining the team this year for a second campaign in FIA Formula 2.
The Paraguayan driver completed his rookie campaign in the Championship with the team in 2024, achieving four podium results along with two race wins, including the season-ending Yas Marina Feature Race.
Duerksen made the jump up to Formula 2 after competing in the 2023 edition of Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine where he secured multiple points finishes and a podium.
I am really excited and happy to announce that I will continue one more year with AIX Racing. We had a great season this year, having four podiums and two wins. And of course, I hope that next year we can replicate a lot more of this success. The progress of the year has been incredible. And I am just extremely happy that you can see me with these colours again next year. Duerksen on the news.
Never change a winning Team. We are more than happy to start a second consecutive year with Joshua in 2025, who was, without any doubt, the most progressing and also surprising Driver in F2 2024. We were aware of his talent and work-ethic and beside that having a great personality. His achievements 2024 are underlining our ambitious goal, to fight permanently for the top ranks in 2025. Everyone is highly motivated and delighted to continue 2025 were we finished with Joshua in 2024. Vamos…. Roland Rehfeld, AIX Racing Sporting Director.
Campos Racing have confirmed that Josep Maria Marti will continue with the team for the 2025 Formula 2 season, completing their lineup for next season following the announcement of Arvid Lindblad.
Marti returns for a second season of F2 after a rookie campaign in which he achieved four podiums, including a Yas Marina Sprint Race victory.
Marti and Campos share a long history together, with the 19 year old having raced for the team each year since stepping up to single seater racing in 2019. Including in the 2023 Formula 3 season when he fought for the title before finishing the season in fifth.
The Spanish driver is now set to return for a fifth season with Campos colours, following the announcement Marti expressed his delight at continuing with the team.
I’m very excited to be returning today Campos Racing for my 2nd season in Formula 2 in 2025. Since the start of my single seater career, Adrian father and son have had faith in me and now we are facing our fifth season together. I am confident that with this team that I consider as family, and the hard work that we have put in during 2024, we will be very competitive and surely a top contender. The start of 2025 starts now with the post-season tests from this Wednesday. Vamos! Marti on the news.
I am happy that Pepe and Campos Racing can continue working together for the fifth consecutive year. He is like family to us, and we understand each other perfectly as he is fully integrated into the team. It has been a fairly positive first year in FIA Formula 2, with four podiums, including a victory in Abu Dhabi, which should serve as the ultimate motivation for 2025. We will have two young drivers, Pepe and Arvid, with whom we aim to achieve great things once again. Team Principal, Adrian Campos Jr.
Sebastian Montoya will graduate to Formula 2 next season with PREMA Racing the team have confirmed.
The Colombian driver joins Gabriele Mini for 2025, completing the Italian outfit’s line-up for next season.
Montoya completed in his second FIA Formula 3 campaign this year, finishing the season with six points finishes, including a P2 in the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race.
The Red Bull Junior Team driver started his single seater racing career with PREMA in 2020, racing in Italian F4 with the team and finishing fourth overall the following year.
He then moved onto Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine for 2022 before making the step up to FIA F3 full-time in 2023.
I’m very excited to join PREMA for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season. It was the first team I worked with and that makes it very cool to see how the team changed. It is one of the best teams in feeder series racing and now in the world. I’m delighted to join forces with it again and cannot wait to get it started. Montoya on the news.
It’s great to be working with Sebastian again. We really enjoyed the collaboration in Formula 4 and Formula Regional and now heading into the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship, we are sure there is good potential to be put to fruition. The step to F2 is never easy, but we are determined to prepare well together at home and in testing and build on that. Rene Rosin, PREMA Team Principal.
Hitech Pulse-Eight have confirmed that Dino Beganovic will be stepping up to Formula 2 full-time next season, completing their 2025 lineup.
Beganovic graduated to F2 for the final two rounds of the 2025 season, scoring 22 points across the Lusail and Yas Marina weekend, including a P3 finish in the final Sprint Race of the year.
This followed his title-contending 2024 Formula 3 season in which he achieved two victories and a further two podiums on his way to ending up sixth in the Standings.
Prior to that, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member won the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine and following the announcement of his plans for 2025, the Swede expressed his delight at the news.
I’m thrilled to join Hitech GP for my first full season in Formula 2 next year. Having had a brief introduction to F2 over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been really impressed by the car and the level of the championship. Stepping up full time in 2025 with one of the series’ top teams is an amazing opportunity. I’m tremendously grateful to Hitech, Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, and everyone else who made this possible. It’s a big, important step in my career and I can’t wait to start working with the team this week at the post-season test. Beganovic on the news.
We’re delighted to welcome Dino for our 2025 Formula 2 campaign. Having competed against him for several years, it is great to have him driving for Hitech and we look forward to working with him. Dino’s record in single-seater racing is impressive. After two highly competitive seasons in Formula 3, he took his F2 debut in his stride in Lusail, demonstrating that he was ready to take the next step up the ladder. His performance in Abu Dhabi one week later was outstanding. Together with Luke, we have a strong line-up to fight for the Formula 2 Championship title next year. They each bring F2 race experience that will be invaluable heading into testing and the new season. Clive Hatton, HiTech Team Manager.
ART Grand Prix have announced that Ritomo Miyata will join the team next season in Formula 2. The Japanese driver completed his rookie campaign this year, finishing the season with eight point finishes across the campaign.
Miyata joined Formula 2 after winning the Super Formula and Super GT GT500 titles in 2023. Prior to that, the Toyota Gazoo Racing driver secured victories in Japanese Formula 4 and the Super Formula Lights series’, winning titles in both categories in 2020 and 2017 respectively.
Speaking about his move to ART, Miyata said that he was hugely excited to be joining a team which has achieved so much success in Formula 2.
I am thrilled to announce that I will be competing in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season with ART Grand Prix. I am deeply grateful to Morizo-san (Akio Toyoda) and everyone at TGR for giving me another opportunity to race in Formula 2. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to ART Grand Prix for warmly welcoming me into their team. ART Grand Prix is a prestigious team in the world of motorsport, and I feel honored and excited to compete alongside them as one of their drivers. Building on the lessons I learned during the 2024 season, I will give my absolute best together with Morizo-san, TGR, and ART Grand Prix. Thank you for your continued support as we take on the 2025 season together. Miyata on the news.
We are delighted to welcome Ritomo Miyata to ART Grand Prix for the 2025 Formula 2 season. With his prior F2 experience and impressive results in single-seater racing, Ritomo has all the qualities needed to take on this challenge. We are excited to work with him and support him in achieving his goals this season. Sebastian Philippe, ART Team Principal.
Trident have confirmed their first driver signing for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season with Sami Meguetounif set to step up to the second tier with the team this year.
The Frenchman had a strong 2024 campaign with the team in Formula 3, finishing eighth in the Championship Standings thanks to his two feature race victories in Imola and Monza.
Prior to that, Meguetounif took part in the 2022 and 2023 season of Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine achieving several podiums across his two seasons in the category.
He will now graduate to Formula 2 with Trident, the 20 year old expressed his delight at not only stepping up to F2 but also doing so in familiar surroundings.
I am very happy and excited to make my debut in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Team Trident. When I made my debut in Formula 3 with the Italian team twelve months ago, I did not think I would grow so quickly. This year I have worked with strong, intelligent and determined people. We have had an incredible season, which has allowed me, also thanks to two wonderful victories, to convince those who support me that it was time to move up a ladder. I can’t wait to take part in the Formula 2 post-season tests and enter a new phase of my career. Meguetounif on the news.
We are very pleased to announce that Sami Meguetounif will compete with Trident Motorsport in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship. We had the pleasure of working with Sami this year in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, obtaining remarkable results, as he has proven to be a winning driver. The move to the higher category represents a natural step at this stage of his career. I am sure that Sami has all the qualities to learn quickly and have a competitive season. Giacomo Ricci, Trident Team Manager.
Gabriele Mini will step up to FIA Formula 2 in 2025 with PREMA Racing the Italian outfit have confirmed.
The Alpine Academy driver finished as runner-up in this seasons’ FIA F3 campaign, taking one win and four podiums across the season.
Mini has already driven in Formula 2 for PREMA, as he deputised for Oliver Bearman earlier in the year for Round 12 in Baku, He was able to secure a podium finish in the Sprint Race, ending up third on the rostrum.
Earlier in his career, Mini race with PREMA in Italian Formula 4 back in 2021 before reuniting with the team in F3 in 2024 after two seasons away.
The 19 year old is a member of the Alpine Academy and has been since the beginning of 2023. He also took part in the rookie test in Formula E with Nissan Formula E Team.
Very happy to be joining PREMA in FIA F2 and to keep working together for another season. We showed excellent potential and speed throughout the whole year in Formula 3. After the great run at Baku, I hope we will keep working that way to try and fight at the front end of the championship again. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I want to thank All Road Management, Alpine, and everyone involved. Mini on the news.
We are thrilled to continue working with Gabriele. We always kept him in very high regard, and after getting back with him for FIA F3, we are already looking forward to making the next step together. Having an early start was a great opportunity for both, especially because we have maximized it with some impressive results. Preparations for the year ahead have already started and the early signs are definitely promising. Rene Rosin, PREMA Team Principal.
DAMS Lucas Oil have confirmed that Kush Maini will be driving for them in the 2025 Formula 2 season, completing their lineup for next having already announced the retention of Jak Crawford.
Maini will be returning for a third season of F2 after achieving six podiums across his first two campaigns including a victory in the 2024 Budapest Sprint Race.
Prior to Formula 2, he competed in Formula 3 in 2022, where he finished 14th overall. Not only this but he became reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Formula E for Season 10 where he also took part in the Berlin rookie test too.
I’m thrilled to be joining a team with such a strong pedigree and history in Formula 2 like DAMS Lucas Oil. I feel like my story in this championship isn’t completed yet, and I know that this is the right crew to help me further my career. I’ve taken pole positions and won races, so now it’s all about consistently delivering over the course of a campaign. I can’t wait to get started this week with post-season testing alongside Jak, and to form an experienced team as we look to battle for the championship in 2025. Maini on the news.
We’re pleased to confirm Kush for next year as he’s a talented driver who has shown excellent raw speed throughout his time in the series. We know that together with our experienced team we can find the correct balance and ensure Kush has a consistent level of performance. We believe with Jak and Kush that we have a very strong partnership, which can help us to consistently fight at the front of the grid in 2025. Charles Pic, Team Owner.
Hitech Pulse-Eight have announced that Luke Browning will race for the team in Formula 2 next season, their first confirmed driver for 2025.
Browning made the step up to F2 earlier this season in Baku after a stellar 2024 campaign with Hitech in F3 in which he fought for the title until the final race of the year.
The Williams Racing Driver Academy member finished the year with three podiums, including two Feature Race victories in Sakhir and Spielberg.
He goes into the 2025 season having accumulated F2 experience this year, taking part in the final three rounds of the year in Baku, Lusail and Yas Marina, scoring points across the six races.
I’m so happy that I’ll be racing in F2 with Hitech next season. I’ve been through every category of single seater racing with this team and to be able to complete the ladder with them is incredibly important and special for me. I would like to thank Oliver Oakes in particular for his support throughout the last three seasons. There is nothing I want more than to win the F2 Championship with this group of people around me, and that is our goal for 2025. Browning on the news.
After three seasons with Hitech, Luke has worked closely with the team at every stage of his journey up the single-seater ladder. We’re extremely proud of his progression to F2, and to see him get his competitive F1 debut last week in Abu Dhabi. With Luke getting the opportunity to step up to Formula 2 for the final three rounds of the current season, coupled with the experience he has gathered from his Formula 1 Free Practice, and the Young Driver Test this week, we couldn’t have wished for better preparation for his 2025 campaign. Luke and Hitech share the same objective for 2025 – to win the Formula 2 Championship – and we have no doubt that he will be fighting for victories every step of the way. Clive Hatton, Hitech Team Manager.
Invicta Racing have confirmed the signing of Roman Stanek for the 2025 Formula 2 season, completing their driver lineup for this year following the announcement of F3 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli.
Stanek returns for a third season in F2 having previously won the 2024 Melbourne Sprint Race having also achieved a further eight point finishes across his previous two seasons.
Prior to that, the Czech driver fought for the title until the final round of the 2022 Formula 3 Championship, winning one race and achieving a further three podiums.
Speaking following the announcement, Stanek was excited to have the opportunity to race for the 2024 Champions.
I can’t wait to drive for Invicta Racing in 2025. The team has been fighting at the front of the field all season, achieved some really great results and is undoubtedly one of the most desirable options in the paddock for next year. That means there’ll be some pressure for Leonardo (Fornaroli) and I, but I think we’re up to the challenge. I’m ready for whatever F2 throws at me in 2025. Stanek on the news.
We’re thrilled to have Roman onboard for 2025. His experience of F2 in recent years, as well as the other series he’s raced in will be invaluable to Invicta Racing in 2025. I see the partnership between himself and Leonardo (Fornaroli) being extremely fruitful as well. That mix of approaches from a driver who knows the ropes and one fresh to the series will push the team forward, of that I have no doubt. Andy Roche, Invicta Racing Team Principal.
MP Motorsport have confirmed that Oliver Goethe will continue racing for them in Formula 2 next season, completing their driver lineup for 2025.
Goethe stepped up to F2 with MP at Monza as a replacement for Franco Colapinto after a title-contending season in Formula 3. He achieved one victory and two further podiums on his way to finishing seventh in the standings.
Since his call up, the German driver has scored 12 points for the team, which all came in the Feature Race at Lusail, where he finished fourth.
He will now step up to F2 full-time next season partnering Richard Verschoor and speaking about his confirmation, Goethe says his experiences in 2024.
I’m truly delighted to continue with MP Motorsport in 2025. It’s the logical thing to do – my four F2 rounds with MP this season will provide me with valuable experience working with the team and with Richard too, as we use that as a stepping stone towards next year’s full-season Formula 2 effort together. I’ve enjoyed many good times with the team when I started out in single-seaters five years ago, and on my return at Monza I was made to feel at home immediately. I can’t wait to go racing one more time in Abu Dhabi before preparing for our 2025 challenge. Goethe on the news.
It was great news that we were able to welcome Oliver back in the team at Monza, and its great news yet again that he is staying on for more Formula 2 in 2025. Oliver fitted right back in as soon as he rejoined our team and we look forward to repeating the strong results we gained in our time together in Spanish F4 and, of course, only recently at Macau in the FIA FR World Cup. Along with Richard, we have two very familiar faces in our team, and we aim to build on their close bond with the team to finish this season on a high and come out strong in 2025. Sander Dorsman, MP Motorsport Team Principal.
Trident have announced that Max Esterson will continue racing with the team for the 2025 Formula 2 campaign, which is their first confirmed driver signing for next season.
Esterson stepped up to F2 in Lusail with Trident after completing his first full season of Formula 3 with Jenzer Motorsport.
He achieved two-point scoring finishes across the campaign, including in his debut Sprint Race in Sakhir, also achieving a front row start at Silverstone.
Prior to F3, Esterson began his racing career on iRacing, before making the switch to Formula Ford in the UK and winning the Formula Ford Festival in 2022.
I am thrilled to be able to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident Motorsport. Participating in the Lusail race last weekend and the Abu Dhabi final are very useful in this regard. I think I have already understood many aspects of the category. Together with the technical staff, I will work hard this winter to make 2025 a great year. I would like to thank the team, my fans and my family for all their work and support that have allowed me to be where I am today. Esterson on the news.
We are very pleased to announce that Max Esterson will compete in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident Motorsport. He is a driver we met two years ago, we have followed him very carefully and we have seen him making remarkable progress. This year, Max has proven to be extremely competitive in his debut in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. I am confident that he has all the qualities to do a good job with the technical staff and be competitive in 2025. Giacomo Ricci, Trident Team Manager.
Rodin Motorsport have announced their first driver singing for the 2025 Formula 2 campaign, with Christian Mansell set to race for the team next year.
Mansell has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season in Formula 3, fighting for the title until the final round before ending up fifth in the Standings thanks to his five podiums.
The 19 year old then stepped up to F2 with Trident in Baku and scored points in both races on his debut weekend and is now currently set to see out the rest of the season with the Italian team in Lusail and Yas Marina.
The Australian driver will then return to Rodin full time in 2025, a team where he had previous success having achieved multiple race wins and podiums for them across the 2020 British F4 and 2021 GB3 Championships.
I am thrilled to be returning to Rodin Motorsport for the 2025 season. The team has always been supportive, and I am excited to build on our past successes together. I look forward to the challenges ahead and am ready to give my best on the track. Mansell on the news.
We are pleased to welcome Christian back to the team here at Rodin Motorsport. We’ve been impressed watching his step up to the Formula 2 championship and know how great he is to work with from our previous seasons together. I’m looking forward to seeing him get behind the wheel of the car in Abu Dhabi with us and getting our season underway. Benn Huntingford, Rodin Motorsport Team Manager.
Rodin Motorsport have confirmed that Leonardo Fornaroli will replace Zane Maloney for the final round of the Formula 2 season at Yas Marina.
Fornaroli makes the step up to F2 fresh from winning the 2024 Formula 3 title thanks to his seven podium finishes, two pole positions and two fastest laps.
The 19 year old will now get behind the wheel of F2 machinery for the first time at the last round of the season. Maloney had his final race weekend with the team in Lusail.
Maloney is moving to Formula E, with the season starting next month at the Sao Paulo E-Prix with Round 1 on the 7th December. The same weekend as the finale for F1, F2 and F1 Academy!
Very grateful to be able to do the last round of the F2 Championship with Rodin Motorsport who are such a good team in the series. It will be a big challenge for me because this is my first time in the F2 car without any practice so I have a lot to learn but I can’t wait for it and I’m looking forward to being behind the wheel in Abu Dhabi Fornaroli on the news.
I wish Leo a great weekend in Abu Dhabi. I will miss working with the Rodin Motorsport team and look forward to seeing their success in the future! But we still have one more weekend in Qatar to look ahead to and finish off our season strongly. Maloney on the news.
It’s great to welcome Leo to the team for the final round of the season. It’s going to be a step up for him, but we’ve seen what he can do in Formula 3, and we’re confident he’ll adapt quickly and perform well. Obviously, we still have one more round in Qatar to look forward to with Zane on board before he begins his Formula E season; we thank him for his contributions and wish him the best in his new venture. Benn Huntingford, Team Manager.
Pole sitter Bearman covered off Hadjar at light out as the Championship challenger settled into P2 ahead of compatriot Victor Martins, who launched his way into the top three from seventh on the grid.
With the medium compound fitted, Hadjar was hustling Bearman around the opening two laps and he seized the lead at Turn 10 to take top spot on the second lap.
The Campos driver set off into the distance, leading by 3.5s over Bearman by Lap 5 while Martins followed a further two seconds adrift on the Brit and with a DRS train in his mirrors.
Gabriel Bortoleto moved himself up to seventh with a pass on Oliver Goethe just before the MP driver was forced into retirement with an issue. With his car stationary in the second sector, a Virtual Safety Car was called upon to recover the stricken MP.
The VSC was withdrawn on lap 7, and the battle for third was incredibly close. With Martins also running the Medium tyres, he came under pressure from Crawford as the yellow marked rubber began to fade.
Bearman took four tenths out of Hadjar on Lap 9 as the race leader also began to struggle with his tyres despite running in clear air.
Behind them, Martins and Crawford’s fight for third continued and the American looked to have the move done, but the ART driver defended hard and held onto the place. Their squabbling allowed Richard Verschoor, Paul Aron, Gabriel Bortoleto and Dino Beganovic to join their fight in the points positions.
Bearman continued to work away at Hadjar’s advantage and broke into DRS range on lap 17 while Crawford finally got a move done on Martins. Verschoor was through on the ART car to take fourth place, while Bortoleto attempted to round Aron at Turn 1, but he ran out of road and had to run through the gravel.
After getting to within half a second in the final sector, Bearman had the sliptsream he needed to attempt a pass and he dived to the inside of Hadjar to take the lead on Lap 21.
The Frenchman’s night was made worse immediately, as he dropped to fourth with a spin at Turn 4. Contact between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Kush Maini brought out a late race Safety Car as both were left stricken on the side of the track.
The full top 10 are- P1: Bearman, P2: Crawford, P3: Verschoor, P4: Hadjar, P5: Bortoleto, P6: Maloney, P7: Aron, P8: Durksen, P9: Martins and P10: Beganovic.
Day 3-
It was a great start from Bortoleto who got ahead of pole-sitter Aron off the line, while debutant Dino Beganovic came out on top in the Turn 1 battle for third with Victor Martins.
The race settled down early on until Kush Maini had a difficult start to Lap 4, dropping from P7 to P11 in the space of a few corners.
Back at the front the top two were separated by 1.2s at the start of Lap 6. They had created a gap of over three seconds to Beganovic in third.
But Beganovic’s teammate Jak Crawford was the first of the option tyre runners to pit from sixth. The Swede followed him in a lap later as did Aron, Martins, Verschoor and Antonelli.
However, a VSC was soon deployed with Antonelli in the gravel in the first sector. The Italian driver complained of a broken steering wheel after having collided with Verschoor in the pitlane. With his car stranded, a full Safety Car was deployed, allowing Bortoleto to pit and retain the net race lead on Lap 9, but was soon given a five second penalty for failing to follow the Race Director’s instructions relating to crossing the line at pit entry.
Racing returned on Lap 13 of 32, as Duerksen challenged Bearman for the lead, although the Brit was able to keep the position.
However, the Safety Car was back out after Crawford and Rafael Villagomez collided at Turn 6. The former was forced to retire with a suspension issue, while the latter was stationary on track.
The drama resumed on lap 17 as Bearman went wide at the final corner to give Duerksen the lead. The PREMA driver managed to stay within track limits, making Duerksen’s overtake before the start/finish line against the rules.
After the Safety Car interventions, the race was run to time, and with less than 13 minutes to go, Bearman was now over four second clear out in front.
Duerksen was now back up to second ahead of Maini, who pitted at the end of the lap, allowing Bortoleto to move up to third on the road. The Brazilian then got ahead of Duerksen after a multi-lap battle with just over five minutes left in the race, as Aron followed him through a lap later and Hadjar closed in.
With under three minutes to go, Bearman and Duerksen pitted, giving Bortoleto the lead on track with four seconds separating him and his closest title rival Hadjar in third,
Despite pushing on the last lap, Bortoleto could not create the gap needed across the line, giving Aron the victory and Hadjar second as the Brazilian dropped third.
The full top 10 are- P1: Aron, P2: Hadjar, P3: Bortoleto, P4: Goethe, P5: Beganovic, P6: Mansell, P7: Cordeel, P8: Bennett, P9: Maloney and P10: Miyata.
Paul Aron was in impressive form in Formula 2’s first session at the Lusail International Circuit after finishing at the top of the Practice leaderboard.
The Hitech Pulse-Eight driver was in eye catching form throughout as he ended up 0.642s clear of Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto. MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor rounded out the top three.
However, it was ART Grand Prix driver, Victor Martins that led the way early on, going to the top of the leaderbaord on a 1:43.018.
But as the first set of laps were being completed, the Virtual Safety Car was signalled after DAMS’ debutant Dino Beganovic stopped on track with an issue.
Action then resumed with 33 minutes left on the clock as the drivers started to return to track for their second flying laps it was Championship leader, Bortoleto that went fastest with a 1:40.366.
The times continued to drop as the track ramped up but this time it was Aron who was quickest with a 1:39.236 putting him three-tenths clear of Bortoleto as Martins once again ended up in P3.
Aron went even quicker on his next two attempts, first moving to a 1:38.926 before going over nine tenths fastest on his next lap to drop the benchmark to 1:38.024.
However, there was 17 minutes left on the clock when the drivers were forced to return to the pit lane after ART’s Luke Browning beached his car in the gravel at Turn 9 bringing out the Red Flags.
The green flag was waved with under nine minutes left leading to a flurry of activity in the pit lane as the drivers came out for their final laps of the sessions.
Qualifying-
Paul Aron made it a Friday weep, topping Qualifying for Hitech Pulse-Eight in impressive fashion. The Estonian driver went to the top with his first flying lap and couldn’t be dethroned.
Championship leader, Bortoleto wounded up second, 0.3s down on the 1:35.115 of Aron, while Victor Martins rounded out the top three.
With the early laps of the session, PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman put himself to the top with a 1:38.065, 0.125s quicker than familiar foe Martins.
The track evolution continued to be rapid and on the next go around, Bortoleto set the time to beat with a 1:36.914. Bearman, Martins and then Aron bettered his time, the Hitech driver quickest again on a 1:36.614.
While Bearman and Aron opted to pit, Bortoleto continued to do a third push lap, and he set a 1:36.586 to take over at the halfway stage with direct title rival Hadjar in 13th.
With 12 minutes to go, drivers returned to the track with fresh Mediums fitted, but the first of the final attempts came with seven minutes left on the clock.
Aron lowered the time to beat a 1:36.088 with an impressive final sector, while Bortoleto filtered through 0.3s down on that effort in P2.
Inside the final five minutes and the track ramped up once more, and Richard Verschoor lifted himself into P1, but Aron had yet another answer for his rivals. Bortoleto responded and closed the gap down once more but was 0.023s down in second position.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Aron, P2: Bortoleto, P3: Martins, P4: Beganovic, P5: Verschoor, P6: Crawford, P7: Maini, P8: Goethe, P9: Hadjar and P10: Bearman.
AIX Racing have confirmed that Cian Shields will see out the rest of the Formula 2 season with the team, replacing Niels Koolen for the Lusail and Yas Marina rounds.
Shields steps up to F2 after a single season in Formula 3 where he achieved a best result of 14th at the Barcelona Sprint Race.
Prior to that, the 19 year old finished as the runner up in the 2023 Euroformula Open Championship thanks to 10 podiums which included four wins.
He is now set to step up to Formula 2 for the final two rounds of the season with AIX, an opportunity he is delighted to be getting.
I’m super excited to be joining AIX Racing for the final two rounds of the FIA Formula 2 Championship in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. I’m looking forward to this fantastic opportunity and ready to make an impact with the team, giving it everything in these last races. Shields on the news.
Trident have confirmed that Max Esterson will drive for the team for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 2 campaign. The American driver steps up from Formula 3 and replaces Richard Verschoor for the Lusail and Yas Marina Rounds.
Esterson made his full-time Formula 3 debut this year with Jenzer Motorsport, securing a front row start at Silverstone as well as two points-scoring results across the season.
Prior to F3, Esterson began his racing career on iRacing, before making the switch to Formula Ford in the UK and winning the Formula Ford Festival in 2022.
It’s great to be making the step up to Formula 2, even if it’s a little sooner than I had imagined. Just two years ago I was running a Formula Ford and winning the FF Festival, and now I’m about to make my debut in Formula 2. It’s all happened quickly but the people closest to me are all confident about my ability to successfully make the jump. I’ve been working hard with the team at Trident and feel I’m well prepared and ready to go. I want to give a special thanks to Maurizio Salvadori and Giacomo Ricci for making this happen, and to the rest of the Trident team for making me feel so welcome. Esterson on the news.
We are excited to finally be working with Max in a race situation. We first met him over two years ago when he was still driving Formula Fords and have closely followed his progress since then. He had some very strong outings this year in FIA Formula 3, his first year in international competition, especially as he was with one of the smallest teams, and on circuits which were almost all new to him. He is smart and has a mature, calm personality; he is hard working, and while he has already shown great pace, he is only in his fourth full year of racing and still learning – so we’re excited to see his progress this year. Trident Team Manager, Giacomo Ricci.
MP Motorsport have announced that Richard Verschoor will complete the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season with the team, and confirmed he will race for them in 2025.
The Dutch driver returns to the team he made his Formula 2 debut with back in 2021, replacing Dennis Hauger for the final two rounds of the current season.
Verschoor has achieved four race wins across his F2 career, and earned a further eight podium finishes, with four of those coming in 2024.
Previously, the Dutch combination won the Macau FIA F3 World Cup back in 2019 and ahead of his return to the MP cockpit in Lusail.
Signing up with MP for more Formula 2 feels like coming home. I spent half of my entire racing career with MP, so it means a lot to me that we are able to move forward together for 2025 while also adding the two final 2024 rounds at Losail and Yas Marina. It’s been a partnership that has led to success in Formula 4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, including that legendary victory at Macau. I can’t wait to travel to Qatar and go back to working with the team once again. Verschoor on the news.
I’m extremely happy to welcome back Richard for another season in Formula 2. We have celebrated many wins together, so it’s a true privilege to tap into his wealth of Formula 2 knowledge as we head towards a new season. Richard returning to the MP fold is testament to the way we go racing as a family, and he has always fitted right in. Meanwhile, I would like to thank Dennis for his huge contribution to the team in the past two F2 seasons. Three wins, nine podiums and two poles is no mean feat, and I am certain that he will take his career to a new level in North America. MP Motorsport Team Principal, Sander Dorsman.
DAMS Lucas Oil have confirmed that Dino Beganovic will replace Juan Manuel Correa for the final two rounds of the 2024 Formula 2 season.
Beganovic steps up to the second tier fresh from a Formula 3 campaign in which he fought for the Championship until the final round, finishing the season in sixth in the Standings, with two victories and an additional two podiums.
Prior to F3, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy prospect won the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine after also enjoying a trophy-laden karting career.
Beganovic will now graduate to F2 with DAMS, replacing Correa in Lusail for Round 12 and at the season finale in Yas Marina.
I can’t wait to make my Formula 2 debut with DAMS Lucas Oil, who has so much history as well as tremendous drive to achieve great results. This feels like the natural next step in my career, and I’m ready for the challenge in an extremely competitive championship. My aim for these two races is to learn as much as possible and to be scoring points in my first F2 action in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Beganovic on the news.
We’re excited to take on a talent like Dino for the remainder of the season. It’s a step up from Formula 3 and a very competitive championship, but we’re confident that with the help of the team Dino can be competitive in these final two rounds. He has an excellent racing CV, and we believe he has what it takes to fight for strong points. I would also like to thank JM for his efforts this season, it was a pleasure to work with him and we wish him all the best for the future. DAMS Lucas Oil Team Owner, Charles Pic.
DAMS Lucas Oil have retained Jak Crawford for the 2025 Formula 2 season, announcing that their partnership with the American driver is set to continue for a second consecutive campaign.
Crawford switched to DAMS for 2024, achieving five podiums including a Feature Race victory in Barcelona and with two rounds remaining the 19 year old is currently fifth in the Drivers’ Championship.
The American driver left the Red Bull junior team at the end of 2023 and has now joined Aston Martin, where he carried out his first Formula 1 test with the team back in June. He is expecting further opportunities with the team before the end of this year and an expanded role in 2025.
I’m really happy to be continuing with DAMS Lucas Oil for 2025 following on from a positive campaign so far in 2024. We’ve still got two rounds of this season to go as we’re pushing for a top five finish, and I hope that we can take a further step forward next year, to be challenging more regularly at the front. I can see how determined everyone in the team is to compete further up the grid, which is why I’ve decided to stay for a second year. Motor racing is a team sport and not an individual one, so we’ll improve together and hopefully next year we can see the rewards on track. Crawford on the news.
We’re thrilled to retain Jak for the 2025 season after a year that has produced both high and low points. Throughout the campaign, Jak has kept his head down and worked hard, which shows his great attitude. It’s a pleasure to continue with Jak for a second season, and our objective is to consistently compete at the front of the grid. Jak has shown his ability this year, appearing on the podium five times and putting in several strong performances. Charles Pic, Team Owner.
Campos Racing have confirmed their first driver for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season, with Arvid Lindblad making the step up from Formula 3.
The Brit finished his rookie F3 campaign fourth for PREMA Racing, where he took four race victories including a clean sweep at Silverstone to become the first driver in Championship history to achieve this feat.
Prior to Formula 3, the Red Bull Junior competed in Italian F4 finishing third overall in his first full campaign, taking six wins, four poles and 10 podiums.
Lindblad said he was eager to get started with his new team ahead of the promotion to F2.
Super excited to be joining Campos Racing in FIA F2 for 2025. The team has had an amazing season so far and can’t wait to start working together. I look forward to joining the long list of drivers that have raced for the team in the past and be a part of its heritage and the legacy of Mr. Adrián Campos. The team seems very passionate, hungry and motivated to win. They’ll give me the tools and knowledge to continue to develop as a driver as we push each other to improve. I want to say thank you to everyone at Red Bull, the Junior Team and Campos Racing for the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started! Lindblad on the news.
We are happy to have a driver like Arvid in our ranks for 2025, as he has immense talent, and we are sure that together we have very important goals ahead. We have the winter months to work ensuring he is as prepared as possible for his debut next season. We will bring all our experience to make his transition as smooth and successful as possible. Adrian Campos Jr, Team Principal.
PREMA Racing have confirmed that Gabriele Mini will replace Oliver Bearman for Round 12 of the FIA Formula 2 season. It will mark the Italian’s F2 debut.
Mini finished the 2024 Formula 3 campaign second in the standings with PREMA after narrowly missing out on the Drivers’ Championship to compatriot Leonardo Fornaroli.
He secured a race victory in the Monte Carlo Feature Race along with a further four podium finishes en route to P2 in the Standings.
The Alpine Academy driver said that he was looking forward to learning as much as possible about the car and the Championship across the weekend in Azerbaijan.
The 19 year old is expected to step up to an F2 seat next season, likely with Prema given both Mercedes-bound Antonelli and Bearman with Haas are both graduating to F1 for 2025.
He knows Prema very well as he competed for the team in the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 championship in 2020, before he went on to link up with Hitech and ART as he competed in Formula Regional competitions.
He then continued on with Hitech for his maiden F3 season last year, but rejoined Prema for the Macau Grand Prix, a relationship which continued into the recently ended F3 season.
Very happy to be joining PREMA Racing for the FIA Formula 2 event at Baku. We had a strong season in 2024, and we have been fighting for the title until the last corner. Formula 2 is the main option for 2024 so it’s also very important to join early at Baku. It’s a good opportunity for me to learn with the new car and series. Mini on the news.
We cannot wait to see Gabriele make his FIA Formula 2 debut. It’s very rewarding to see him graduate to the top junior single-seater series after making his very first steps with our team back in 2020. It will be a useful opportunity for both him and the team. On the other hand, we want to wish Ollie the best in his second Formula 1 start and we look forward to having him back for the final part of the year. Rene Rosin, PREMA Racing Team Principal.
Leonardo Fornaroli will step up to Formula 2 next season with Invicta Racing the team have confirmed.
After winning the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship at the final round in Monza, Fornaroli’s next step is finalised, with the Italian driver the first to be announced for the 2025 campaign.
As part of his preparations for the 2025 season, the team has confirmed that Fornaroli will be participating in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi later this year with the team.
Fornaroli enjoyed his finest season to date, achieving seven podium finishes, two pole position and two fastest laps en route to the title with Trident.
I’m so happy to be able to celebrate winning the F3 championship with this news and I cannot wait to step up to Formula 2 next season. Invicta Racing has proven itself over many years to be one of the best teams in Formula 2, including this season. I’m really excited to work with the team for the 2025 season. I want to take this opportunity to thank Trident for the past three years, they really are the best team in F3. To go from the best team in F3 to the best in F2 is a truly a dream come true. Fornaroli on the news.
We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Leonardo to the team for 2025. Winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship is an incredible achievement for him and I have no doubt that he’ll do a brilliant job in 2025. We’ve followed Leonardo’s single-seater career for a few years now and it’s clear that he’s an outstanding talent. Following in the footsteps of Gabriel this year, we’re thrilled to have the FIA Formula 3 Champion join our team for the second year in a row. Andy Roche, Team Principal of Invicta Racing.
Zane Maloney made a strong start to his Monza weekend, finishing the practice session fastest of all, thanks to Rodin Motorsport driver’s time of a 1:32.285.
The Bajan driver was in strong form throughout and ended the session over a tenth clear of Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto, as Zak O’Sullivan rounded out the top three for ART Grand Prix.
However it was O’Sullivan who was fastest of all after the first set of laps on a 1:34.577 beating Oliver Bearman to the top time by 0.174s.
But after rounding the track for the second time, Maloney went to the top of the leaderboard with a 1:34.060 only for Trident’s Richard Verschoor to eclipse him by 0.048s.
The Rodin driver later set a time of 1:33.664 to return to P1 with Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron now his nearest rival, 0.076s behind. The fastest time changed hands again, as Maloney went fastest once more. Moments later though, Dennis Hauger’s lap of 1:33.209 put him on top for the first time in the session.
The majority of the grid opted to pit with 20 minutes but returned to the track a few minutes later with Joshua Duersken now fastest on a 1:32.953, two-tenths clear of Verschoor in second.
Rodin were showing good pace and while Maloney jumped to second, he was pushed down to third by his teammate Ritomo Miyata who went fastest on a 1:32.946.
As we headed into the final 10 minutes of the session, times began to tumble as both Bearman and Bortoleto went quickest. However it was Maloney again who ended up on top thanks to a 1:32.532.
As we entered the final couple of minutes, the red flags were waved as Roman Stanek collided into the barrier at Serraglio. The session was not restarted leaving Maloney on top ahead of Bortoleto and O’Sullivan.
Qualifying-
Zane Maloney left it late in the day to seal pole position at a dramatic Monza qualifying. The Rodin Motorsport driver completed a lap of 1: 32.160 to win out in a battle with fellow title contenders Isack Hadjar and Paul Aron.
It was a slow start to the session as while the rest of the field chose to stay in the pit lane, Roman Stanek decided to go out on track, The Trident driver completed a lap of 1:34.992 just as most of the grid made their way out on the circuit.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was next to set a lap, and he lowered the benchmark to 1:32.941 with Enzo Fittipaldi going closest to the PREMA Racing driver’s time in second, 0.256s off top spot.
Practice pace setter Maloney had been on a good lap and was about to cross the line but the red flags were waved with the marshals needing to clear a polystyrene board from the track.
The session resumed with 16 minutes left on the clock, but as the times started to pour in once more, the red flags were out for a second time.
This time it was Gabriel Bortoleto stuck in the gravel at the second Lesmo. The Invicta Racing driver had not set a lap and will now start both races from the back of the grid, a blow to his title challenge.
The action resumed with only seven minutes left to go as the drivers poured out of the pitlane with just eight out of 22 having set a representative lap time.
A flurry of laps followed soon after with Hadjar going to the top of the timesheets on a 1:32.249 while Aron followed him across the line to go second.
But Maloney was on a charge and went fastest in the middle sector before beating the Campos Racing driver to the top spot 0.089s.
The drivers pushed on for a second set of laps and while there were some improvements, no-one could match Maloney’s time giving him his first pole position.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Maloeny, P2: Hadjar, P3: Aron, P4: Hauger, P5: Martins, P6: Antonelli, P7: Marti, P8: Bearman, P9: Cordeel and P10: Fittipaldi.
Day 2-
It was a fast start for pole-sitter Enzo Fittipaldi but a slow getaway for fellow front row starter, Amaury Cordeel dropped down to fourth before reaching Turn 1.
However, Fittipaldi went wide at Turn 1, giving Josep Maria Marti the chance to take the lead from the Van Amersfoort Racing driver at the Curva Grande with Martins watching on in third.
But there was drama at the back of the field as Zak O’Sullivan made contact with debutant Oliver Goethe on the run to Turn 1.
The ART driver was then involved in another collision moments later as he and Andrea Kimi Antonelli collided heading into the first chicane. O’Sullivan was out of the race while the PREMA Racing driver pitted with a puncture and front wing damage.
Marti led the pack away as we resumed racing on Lap 4, following a Safety Car, but Fittipaldi was able to use the tow to get ahead on the main straight.
Fittipaldi struggled for the rest of the lap as Martins and Bearman got ahead of him, demoting him to P4.
On to Lap 5 and the battle for P2 commenced, as Bearman got ahead of Martins into the Roggia chicane. Bearman was showing great pace and was right on the back of Marti heading to Turn 1 at the start of Lap 7.
A few laps on Martins overtook Marti for P2 heading to Turn 1. Marti though was not giving up on the position and made a late lunge on the Frenchman heading into Turn 1. Both drivers ran wide but kept the position, as Fittipaldi and Duerksen closed in as Lap 9 got underway.
Bearman’s lead was over two seconds as we started Lap 10, but the fight for the podium was heating up. Marti was now being attacked by Fittipaldi, and the VAR driver took P3 into the first corner.
Campos were struggling as Isack Hadjar lost out to a charging Gabriel Bortoleto, who after starting from last, claimed P12 down the main straight.
The battle for the points was incredibly tight and Aron shut the door on Crawford into the first chicane, allowing Hauger to take P8 from the DAMS Lucas Oil driver at the Curva Grande.
On to Lap 17, Fittipaldi ran wide at the exit of the Roggia chicane, giving Marti and Maloney the chance to close right in on him. He held them off until Turn 1 on the following lap before Marti dived down the inside to take P4.
As the same time, Maloney and Aron made contact at the same corner forcing the Hitech driver to pit with front wing damage.
Back at the front, the top three had separated themselves from the rest of the field as Bearman crossed the line to take his second consecutive victory at Monza.
The full top 10 are- P1: Bearman, P2: Martins, P3: Duerksen, P4: Marti, P5: Maloney, P6: Crawford, P7: Fittipaldi, P8: Bortoleto, P8: Hauger and P10: Hadjar.
Day 3-
It was a brilliant start from pole for Maloney, likewise for third-placed Paul Aron, although it was a slow getaway for Championship leader Isack Hadjar.
However, there was drama at Turn 1 as Josep Maria Marti locked up into the corner following his fast start, sending him into the back of Aron, who was out of the race following the contact.
The Safety Car was called upon and with the track cleared, racing resumed on Lap 3 as Maloney led Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Just behind them, Hadjar, who had dropped to fifth, made up one position after getting ahead of the fast-starting AIX Racing car of Joshua Duerksen only for the AIX driver to retake the position down the main straight on lap 5.
As Lap 6 got underway, Maloney had a lead of over a second a half to Bearman, while Duerksen was on the charge, getting ahead of Antonelli heading into Turn 1.
Just as some of the drivers came out of the pit lane, the Safety Car was called upon with Dennis Hauger having spun at Turn 1 following contact with Ritomo Miyata.
Significantly, Bortoleto was now the net race leader having started in P22 with Verschoor behind and Maloney third in the queue of those to have made their mandatory pit stop.
We returned to racing on lap 11 of 30 with the MP Motorsport debutant Oliver Goethe leading Invicta’s Kush Maini.
As the drivers got ready to start Lap 13, Maloney made a significant move as he got ahead of Verschoor heading to parabolica. This then put him right on the back of Bortoleto, but only briefly as the Brazilian got ahead of Juan Manuel Correa heading to Turn 1.
Bortoleto and Maloney were picking their way through the filed as the former got ahead of Goethe for P2, while the latter pulled off another move at the Parabolica on Correa.
On to Lap 19 and Maloney was losing time to Bortoleto in the battle for the race win as he struggled to get past Goethe. He eventually made the move heading into the Ascari chicane later in the lap, but he was now over four seconds behind Bortoleto.
The two PREMA drivers went wheel to wheel into Turn 1 with Antonelli getting ahead at the exit of Turn 2. Bearman tried to stay on the outside but dipped a tyre in the gravel, giving Duerksen the chance to go around him.
The Italian was on the charge and got ahead of Martins down the main straight to get up to P5, with Goethe having finally pitted and dropped to P16. Martins then lost another place a lap later with Duersken getting ahead under braking into Turn 1.
Maini came in on Lap 29, leaving Bortoleto out front by himself for the final two laps before crossing the line to take his second victory of the season.
The full top 10 are- P1: Bortoleto, P2: Maloney, P3: Verschoor, P4: Antonelli, P5: Duerksen, P6: Martins, P7: Bearman, P8: Villagomez, P9: Crawford and P10: Fittipaldi.
Jordan's Track Talk 