Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula Two

  • Pourchaire sticks with ART GP

    ART Grand Prix have retained 2022 Formula 2 vice champion, Theo Pourchaire for the 2023 season, announcing that the Frenchman will continue his partnership with the team for a third season.

    Pourchaire’s relationship with the French squad began in 2020, the Sauber junior scored two wins and six additional podiums to finish runner-up in Formula 3. Graduating to the second tier in 2021, he went on to become the Championship’s youngest-ever race winner and pole sitter in Monaco.

    A second campaign last year brought a battle with Felipe Drugovich for the title, Pourchaire claimed three victories and a further four podiums, finishing the year as runner-up.

    Alongside competing in F2, Pourchaire will also take on the additional responsibilities with the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team as one of their reserve drivers. With the 19 year old already having some F1 experience as he made his FP1 debut with the team at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.

    I couldn’t be happier to extend my career in this top-level Formula 2 championship with ART Grand Prix, which has become a family to me. We have had intense moments over the past three years and it’s important to prepare for the 2023 championship with a team that knows me and knows how to put me in the best possible situations. We may have lacked success last year, but we gained experience that makes us even stronger. I will do everything I can to bring the title to ART Grand Prix this season.

    Pourchaire on his seat.

    Théo will still be one of the youngest drivers on the grid, but he has acquired a technical and personal maturity which, combined with his speed and his combativeness, will be a major asset to be consistently at the front of the field and will help the team in its technical focus. Last season showed us how much every detail counts and after two seasons in Formula 2 with Théo, ART Grand Prix’s mission will be to master everything in our power to optimize our chances of winning the title in 2023.

    ART Team Principal, Sebastien Philippe.

  • HiTech confirm line-up for 2023

    HiTech Grand Prix will be fielding an all-Red Bull Junior driver line-up for the 2023 season, announcing that Isack Hadjar and Jak Crawford will be graduating to Formula 2.

    Both are familiar faces to the British team, with the pair having previously driven for them in Formula 3 – Crawford in 2021 and Hadjar most recently in 2022 – as well as getting their first taste of F2 machinery at post-season testing in Yas Marina last November.

    18 year old Hadjar, arrives off the back of a fourth-place finish in F3 last year. A title contender all the way to the final round, he managed to clinch three wins and a further two podiums.

    I’m really excited to be part of the Red Bull Junior team and continue this journey with Hitech for another year. Hopefully we can win some more races and have a strong season together.

    Hadjar on his seat for 2023.

    Meanwhile Crawford returns to HiTech after a year away, the American finished his debut F3 campaign 13th in the standings before switching to PREMA Racing for the 2022 season.

    There he scored one win and four podiums to take seventh, helping the Italian team to the Teams’ Championship title, alongside fellow 2023 graduates Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc.

    I am delighted to be back with Hitech for my first season of Formula 2. It will be a tough season with a strong grid but I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

    Crawford on his seat.

    We are excited to field once again two cars in FIA Formula 2 in Red Bull Junior Team colours, especially with two such promising young talents. Isack we saw first hand his last year as a rookie in Formula 3 and Jak we know him well from his first F3 season with us in 2021.

    Oliver Oakes, HiTech Team Principal.

  • Carlin confirm 2023 line-up

    Carlin has confirmed its FIA Formula 2 line-up for the 2023 season, with Enzo Fittipaldi switching to the team, as well as FIA F3 graduate and vice champion, Zane Maloney.

    Both drivers, are newly announced Red Bull Junior Team drivers for the 2023 season and arrive at Carlin after successful 2022 campaigns.

    Fittipaldi already has one full F2 season under his already with Charouz Racing System in ’22, where he took six podium finishes on the way to finish eighth in the Drivers’ Championship.

    He first moved to single seater racing full time in 2017, racing in the Italian F4 Championship and finishing 9th. He then followed that up with a full season in Italian and ADAC F4 in 2018 finishing 1st and 3rd respectively.

    The Brazilian then went on to finish second in Formula Regional European Championship with two wins and 13 podiums to his name in 2019. Moving to FIA F3 in 2020 brought a difficult spell in 2020, with HWA Racelab in 2020 and Charouz Racing System in 2021. Fittipaldi was promoted to Charouz’s F2 team mid mid-way through ’21 but suffered a serious accident in Jeddah at the penultimate round of the year.

    He rebounded from that setback though in style, putting together a strong F2 season with multiple podiums and fighting for top rookie honours.

    I’m extremely excited to be joining Carlin and as well to be part of the Red Bull family for the 2023 season. It’s an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait for the first race weekend in Bahrain.

    Fittipaldi on his announcement.

    Maloney arrives at Carlin after one of his best seasons in racing. He sparked a late title bid with three-consecutive Feature race wins to close the season, ending up only just five points from glory.

    He has worked with the team previously, winning the British F4 Championship in his first year of single seater racing back in 2019.

    In 2020, he moved to Euroformula Open with the British outfit, finishing that year’s season eighth. Moving to Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2021, winning once and achieving seven podiums on the way to fourth.

    The Bajan driver stepped up to FIA Formula 3 with Trident last year, and after a tough spell at the start of the campaign, transformed his season. He took three wins and four podiums, in the final four races made Maloney an unlikely title contender. His efforts won him FIA Rookie of the Year in 2022.

    Joining Carlin in F2 and to do so as part of the Red Bull Junior Team is a fantastic opportunity after my first year of F3 last season. I’m re-joining a team I know extremely well and have won a championship with before in F4. I’ve seen first-hand how strong the team are in F2 and we had a great test together last year in Abu Dhabi. To embark on this journey in Red Bull colours is a dream come true and I’m incredibly excited to get the season underway in Bahrain next month.

    Maloney on his new seat.

    As a Team boss, Enzo and Zane are a dream pairing with both experience and potential. Enzo was a driver who really caught our attention last year and will be looking to build on the strong results he had in his rookie season. Zane was incredibly impressive in his rookie season of F3 and it’s fantastic to welcome him back to Carlin. He certainly needs to focus on building his experience in the first half of the season but I think by the mid-way point we’ll start to see some real flashes of potential.

    Trevor Carlin, Team Principal.

  • Stanek graduates to F2

    Trident have confirmed that Roman Stanek will be graduating to Formula 2, where he will team up with Clement Novalak to complete the team’s line-up for 2023.

    He joined the team having raced for Trident in FIA Formula 3 last season, where he finished fifth in the Drivers’ Championship.

    The 18 year old graduated from karting to single seater in 2019, where he won twice in German F4 and once in Italian F4 and finishing fourth and fifth in both Championships respectively.

    From there, Stanek graduated to Formula 3 for 2020 and has made improvements across his three seasons in the championship, culminating in his top five finish last year.

    Stanek subsequently took part in the post-season test with Trident at Yas Marina following the end of the 2022 F2 season, logging a total of 246 laps across the three days.

    We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Roman Staněk and partner with him for his move to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, which is always a key step for a driver’s career. I think that moving up within the same organization is an important added value in terms of continuity. He knows the team very well, and we will be able to support him in the best possible way. Staněk had a remarkable 2022 season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Trident Motorsport, and I think there are all the components that are needed to perform at a high level this year as well.

    Trident Team Manager, Giacomo Ricci.

    I’m very thrilled to be working with Trident again this year. I’m already at work with the team and Giacomo, who is a great mentor to me, to achieve our goals together. This is going to be a year full of challenges and I’m ready for it.

    Stanek added on.

  • JMC to return to F2 with VAR

    Juan Manuel Correa will be returning to Formula 2 full time for the 2023 season with Van Amersfoort Racing, completing the team’s line-up alongside Richard Verschoor. It will cap off his remarkable and hard-earned comeback following the major injuries he sustained at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019.

    His confirmation comes after a one-off race weekend appearance at the final round of last season at Yas Marina with the team. Correa also took part in post-season testing with VAR following the final weekend, ending up with 222 laps under his belt.

    The 23 year old has plenty of single-seater and sports car experience to rely upon in his relatively short career already. Starting his open-wheel racing in ADAC and Italian Formula 4 in 2016, Correa graduated to GP3 and Toyota Racing Series for full seasons in 2018, finishing 12th and 4th overall.

    He then made the move to FIA Formula 2 in 2019 and scored two second place finishes that season before the tragic events in Belgium. After an extensive period of rehabilitation and training, Correa returned to racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year. He earned a memorable podium in the Zandvoort Sprint Race en route to P13 in the Drivers’ Championship.

    Being back full-time in Formula 2 means more to me than most people can imagine. It is not just an achievement in itself to be on this grid, but it also is a realization of a goal that has been the epicenter of my efforts for the last three years, so it is a very emotional achievement. I am super grateful for the opportunity that Van Amersfoort Racing is giving me. I am very hungry, I am very motivated, and I know the team is as well. I am sure together we, the team and my teammate Richard, will make a great line-up and create a great working environment for everyone. We will be pushing each other to continuously improve, because we all want to do well this upcoming season. F2 is a competitive category, and I think Van Amersfoort Racing has done a really good job in their first year in the championship. With the little experience they had, they’ve put on a very impressive performance. I am looking forward to seeing how I can help the team improve and work together with them in this very exciting season!

    Correa on returning to F2.

    We are excited to have Juan Manuel on board for our second season in the FIA F2. We have had many drivers in the past, but I have to say that the level of commitment that Juan Manuel shows is simply incredible. Besides that, his experience is valuable and will help to further develop both driver and team into the championship. You can imagine we are very eager to start the season in F2 and with the driver line-up we have, our staff is extremely motivated to progress at a high pace. We are convinced that Juan Manuel and Richard will complement each other massively, both on- and off the track, which we see as a strong asset. For now, we make full use of the winter stop, allowing the drivers and crew to further connect and prepare for the season opener at Bahrain!

    Rob Niessink, Van Amersfoort Racing CEO.

  • Verschoor joins VAR

    Van Amersfoort Racing has confirmed that two-time race winner, Richard Verschoor will be driving for the team in next season’s Formula 2 Championship.

    Verschoor, tested with the team at the post-season test at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, finishing the first day in the car as fastest overall.

    The Dutch driver will now link up with his compatriots at VAR for next year, a prospect that Verschoor says he is hugely looking forward to already.

    Debuting in single seater racing back in 2016, Verschoor has shone at multiple levels since. He won at Formula 4 level before graduating to Toyota Racing Series in 2017, where he finished third overall with three victories. He went one better the following season with P2 in the series before moving into FIA Formula 3 in 2019. He was victorious in Macau that season and after two season in F3, graduated to F2.

    I am extremely excited to return to the F2 grid again in 2023 and I am really happy to do so with Van Amersfoort Racing. It is special to be able to announce this on my 22nd birthday as well! As both myself and VAR have grown a lot during last year in F2, I feel very confident about the upcoming season. For me, testing with VAR during the post-season test at Abu Dhabi instantly confirmed their extreme determination to further grow, and that suits my attitude very well! It will be an exciting year and I especially look forward to racing in Melbourne, not to mention Zandvoort. I’m ready for another year of F2 excitement!

    Verschoor on his new seat.

    Of course, it is special to have a talented, Dutch driver like Richard as a part of our 2023 F2 line-up. It might be needless to say that we, as a Dutch team, enjoy very much the opportunity of having a countryman as part of our driver line-up, especially at this high level of racing. Last year we went on a huge learning streak, which for sure will continue into the new season. Richard brings, besides his raw talent and race craft, valuable F2 experience to the team and that will surely benefit us when it comes to further developing the car. He impressed strongly during the post-season test with us at Abu-Dhabi, setting the fastest overall time on the first day out on track. As last year, 2023 is going to be another exciting year for all of us and we look forward to the moment the lights go out for the first time in Bahrain!

    Rob Niessink, VAR CEO

  • Iwasa sticks with DAMS

    Ayumu Iwasa has re-signed with DAMS for a second Formula 2 season, with the French team confirming that the Japanese racer will be competing for them alongside, Arthur Leclerc for the 2023 campaign.

    The Red Bull junior and Honda Formula Dream Project driver sticks with the squad off the back of an impressive rookie season that saw the 21 year old net two wins, a further four podium finishes and two pole positions on his way to finishing fifth in the championship.

    He’ll be hoping to use the benefit of a familiar environment to continue his momentum towards a potential title fight next year, after he closed out 2022 with the final Feature Race win at Yas Marina.

    I’m really happy with my first F2 season, I learned a lot during the year, and we were able to improve at each race. It’s a great feeling to continue with DAMS for another year, I feel at home in the team, and we work well together. Everyone was on the same page and that helped us secure plenty of strong results. It’s going to be helpful to come into the new campaign in a familiar environment, along with my experience of several tracks that were new to me in 2022. My target is to challenge for the F2 title in 2023. We know we have the potential to achieve it, but we’re not looking too far ahead yet, instead concentrating on being ready for the start of the season. Thanks to DAMS for their faith and support and I can’t wait to get started in 2023!

    Iwasa on the news.

    We were all impressed with Ayumu’s performances in 2022, especially with the victories at Paul Ricard and Yas Marina, so we were very keen to keep him for 2023. It’s great for us to continue our relationships with Red Bull and Honda, they trust in our methods, and we’ll do our best to succeed together. Ayumu proved that he has the potential to fight for the title, he was a major competitor in the second half of the season, and we hope he can use this experience to kick on in 2023. We’ve got a strong lineup with Ayumu and Arthur, so we’re hoping they can push each other to improve throughout the year.

    Charles Pic, DAMS Team Owner.

  • Virtuosi confirm Doohan & Cordeel

    Virtuosi racing has announced its driver line-up for the 2023 FIA Formula 2 season, with Jack Doohan remaining with the team and Amaury Cordeel joins him.

    The Australian driver embarks on his second campaign with Virtuosi after achieving three victories this season, including a stand-out weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Doohan ended the sprint race on the podium in P2 before going on to claim the Feature Race win on Sunday.

    He was also prolific in Qualifying, taking three pole positions across the season as well as a further three podiums in 2022.

    I’m thrilled to be continuing with Virtuosi Racing for my second year in Formula 2. After a strong first season together, I couldn’t be happier to be going into 2023 with the same great team around me. I can’t wait to get redemption from this season.

    Doohan remaining with the team.

    Cordeel joins Virtuosi on the back of a rookie campaign in F2 that ended with an improvement in form. The Belgian driver returned from the summer break and put together his most consistent run to date, scoring four times in the final six races.

    It included a season best at Yas Marina , finishing 5th in the Sprint Race and 6th in the Feature Race.

    I’m very happy to say I will be driving with virtuosi in F2 next year. It is clear that Virtuosi is among the top teams which will only make my personal growth better. I already noticed with the three-day test in Abu Dhabi that they support me insanely well. The second half of last season is very promising for next year. I am sure that together with them I can achieve my future dreams. Really thankful for this opportunity.

    Cordeel on his new seat.

    We’re delighted to be sticking with Jack for 2023. Jack enjoyed a brilliant rookie season with us and showed obvious potential for more. Together, we will be working hard to ensure he achieves that. Amaury’s results improved over his rookie year and we’ll be looking to work with him to improve further in 2023. Amaury settled into our car well during the Abu Dhabi post-season test and we’re looking forward to getting to it in 2023.

    Andy Roche, Virtuosi team boss.

  • PHM sign Benavides and Nissany

    PHM Racing by Charouz have announced that Brad Benavides and Roy Nissany will be joining the team for the 2023 Formula 2 season, following a successful post-season test in Yas Marina.

    Stepping up to F2 after his rookie Formula 3 campaign, American-Spanish racer Benavides earned a points-scoring finish for Carlin in the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race.

    The 21 year old has experience competing in Formula Renault Eurocup, the Formula Regional European Championship and the Euroformula Open Championship, with his best finish being 13th in the 2021 Euroformula Standings.

    I firstly want to greatly thank my main sponsor AIX Investment Group, it’s an honor to have the trust and backing of such a successful organization. I am tremendously grateful that they’re helping me to get one step closer to my life’s dream. I’d also like to thank PHM Racing by Charouz for this amazing opportunity, I’m genuinely very motivated, happy, grateful, and completely dedicated so that this next year goes as well as possible. Until now, for me it’s been a path with great challenges. In the face of adversities my spirit is to fight and come out at the top, something that has best defined me in my career. I’m already concentrated on preparing myself in the best possible way before the season starts, looking to really maximize the time I’ve got.

    Brad Benavides on his new seat.

    Nissany completes their line-up, switching from DAMS after two seasons and his most successful F2 campaign yet, having scored eight points finishes. Nissany currently has one podium to his name and will be hoping to add to that tally in 2023.

    It is a very good news that I will race with PHM Racing by Charouz. The tests we have done together last week showed some good potential, and I also have good memories from our previous experience together a few years ago. I can’t wait to get back in the car and start this new adventure. Next season is going to be long and demanding, and I’m already thrilled to race at those 14 amazing venues being part of the 2023 calendar.

    Nissany on his new team.

    The pair showed great pace throughout the three-day test at the Yas Marina Circuit, achieving five top 10 appearances across the six sessions.

    I’m very happy and excited to share the news of the agreement we reached with Brad and Roy after the very positive three days of testing we had in Abu Dhabi last week. We’ll have a very strong pair next year, with an expert driver and a young talent with so much potential, I’m sure they will be a good suit for the team and that we’ll be able to give them the chance to express their speed and skills on track during the next season. I would also like to thank AIX Investment Group for playing an important part in this, we really can’t wait for March to come.

    Charouz remarked.

  • PHM Racing to take over Charouz Racing System

    The FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 Championship promoters announce that German team PHM Racing will take over Charouz Racing System’s entries and assets from the 2023 F2 and F3 seasons.

    Founded in 2021 by Paul H. Muller, PHM Racing took part in the Formula 4 Championship in the United Arab Emirates, the German ADAC F4 and the Italian ACI F4 Championship in 2022.

    PHM Racing will be operated by Charouz Racing System in 2023, and the team will race under PHM Racing by Charouz in both Championships.

    The German outfit will be making its first appearance when Formula 2 and Formula 3 return for pre-season testing at the Bahrain International circuit, on February 14th to 16th.

    I would like to welcome to PHM Racing to Formula 2 and Formula 3. Although they are a young team, they are eager to prove they have what it takes to embrace the challenges of our championships. I would also like to thank Toni Charouz and everyone at Charouz Racing System. Toni has been a great partner throughout the years and Charouz Racing have been valued members of our paddock since 2018. They will operate PHM Racing in both categories next season, so the Charouz name will remain on the grid in some capacity for another year.

    FIA Formula 2 Championship CEO, Bruno Michel.

    Joining Formula 3 and Formula 2 is the next step in our evolution as a comprehensive development program for young driver talents. We are excited to offer drivers a team that can take them from karting all the way to the doorstep of Formula One.

    Paul H.Mueller, owner of PHM Racing adds.

    I’m really glad to announce this partnership with Paul and his team. PHM Racing is a quite new name in the motorsport landscape but they already showed how professional and competitive they can be in Formula 4 and I’m sure, with all our knowledge and support, that they can do as well in the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 championships.

    Toni Charouz, Team owner of Charouz Racing System.

  • Maini completes Campos line-up

    Kush Maini will be joining Campos Racing for next year’s FIA Formula 2 campaign the team has confirmed. With the 22 year old will be partnering Ralph Boschung, having been confirmed earlier this month.

    The Indian driver made his single-seater debut back in 2016 in the Italian F4 Championship. He subsequently graduated through British Formula 3, Formula Renault Eurocup and eventually FIA Formula 3.

    Maini moves up to F2 after finishing this years F3 season 14th in the Drivers Championship, having recorded a best finish of third with that result coming in the Budapest Sprint Race.

    On behalf of Campos Racing, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Kush. He is a very committed, professional racing driver with a great work capacity, so we expect he will be able to complete a strong rookie season next year. He carried out some strong performances in FIA Formula 3 this season and hopefully he will make further improvements in the ultra-competitive FIA F2 Championship.

    Team Principal, Adrian Campos.

    Super happy to be joining Campos Racing team! I’ve spent some time with the team at their workshop and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the professionalism, looking forward to the three-day test at Abu Dhabi to officially start our relationship together! I would like to thank Mumbai Falcons, Omega Seiki Mobility and JK Racing for all their support

    Kush Maini.

  • Novalak reunites with Trident

    Trident have confirmed that Clement Novalak will be driving for the team next season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

    The Frenchman will reunite with the outfit he last drove with in 2021 on his way to third place in FIA Formula 3, where he claimed four podiums and 147 points.

    Novalak finished 14th in the F2 Driver’s Championship this season, taking 40 points and a season-best result of P2 in the Zandvoort Sprint Race. He and teammate, Felipe Drugovich helped MP Motorsport claim their first Teams’ Championship title in the process.

    Team Principal, Giacomo Ricci said that Novalak’s return to the team would bring useful experience from his year with Champions MP Motorsport.

    We are proud to welcome Clément Novalak back to our family. He is a driver with undeniable and undisputed value who did really well with Trident Motorsport in Formula 3 and achieving the third position in 2021 Championship. Novalak brings a year of experience with him in Formula 2 and I’m sure he will be able to make an important contribution to the team.

    Giacomo Ricci.

    I’m extremely happy to be heading back to Trident. We had an amazing partnership together in 2021 and I’m very proud to be wearing their colours again. I’d like to thank Mr. Salvadori for the trust and I’m hoping we can have an amazing 2023 full of success.

    Novalak on his move.

  • Leclerc graduates to F2

    DAMS have announced that Ferrari junior, Arthur Leclerc will be joining the French team for his debut Formula 2 season in 2023.

    Leclerc steps up off the back of two solid Formula 3 campaigns with PREMA Racing, where he scored victories in his rookie season at Le Castellet and Zandvoort.

    Returning for a second campaign this year, the 22 year old finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with one win in the Silverstone feature race and further feature race podium in Sakhir.

    He got his first taste of F2 machinery with DAMS during the post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit this week.

    The Monegasque driver has been steadily rising through the ranks across the past five seasons. His debut year in single-seaters came in 2018 French F4 Champuonship where he finished fifth, before switching over to the ADAC Formula 4 Championship the following year, finishing third.

    In 2020, Leclerc scored six victories, 12 podiums and eight pole positions on his way to claiming second in the Formula Regional European Championship Standings with PREMA and continued with the team on his move up to F3. At the start of 2022, he also took third in the Formula Regional Asian Championship.

    I’m delighted to be making the step up to Formula 2 with DAMS in 2023. They’re a very successful team that has achieved great results in the championship, and I hope I can be a part of that and continue the team’s success. Charles Pic has done an amazing job to help the team back to winning ways throughout the season and I’m aiming to keep that going next year. We’ve a lot of work to do before the start of the new campaign in Bahrain in March, and I’m really looking forward to getting started in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi!

    Leclerc on his move.

    It’s great to have Arthur join DAMS for 2023. We’ve seen his talent and skill throughout his career so far, and he’s shown in the last two years in F3 that he’s capable of challenging for victories. We’re excited to have him in the car for the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, preparing for next season. The team is aiming for a strong campaign in 2023, and we’ve no doubt that the addition of Arthur will help us towards our goals.

    DAMS Team Owner, Charles Pic.

  • Vesti to PREMA

    Frederik Vesti will be driving for PREMA Racing, the team has confirmed. The Dane will swap from ART Grand Prix for next season, reuniting with the Italian team for the first time since 2020.

    During his last spell with PREMA, Vesti captured the Formula Regional European Championship title in 2019, the following year he finished fourth in the FIA Formula 3 Championship before switching to ART for the 2021 F3 season.

    This year, Vesti finished ninth in the Driver’s Championship on 117 points in what was his rookie F2 campaign, he took a maiden victory in Baku Spritn Race and a further four podium finishes.

    We are delighted to welcome Frederik back. He is a quick and hard-working driver, which we already had the chance to appreciate in 2019 and 2020. We are obviously looking forward to joining forces again and seeing what we will be able to achieve together next season. With his skills and the experience, he has matured. We expect him to be a contender and we are determined to support him the best way we can.

    Rene Rosin, PREMA Team Principal.

    To join PREMA Racing for the 2023 Formula 2 season is great news for me. I have known PREMA since 2019 when we won the Formula Regional European Championship together. PREMA is an amazing place to be at and in my opinion gives me the best opportunity to fight for the F2 title in 2023! I have big dreams and PREMA is the team I believe that I can achieve those dreams with. There is no doubt that 2023 F2 is going to be incredibly close, but I will give my everything to be fast and consistent throughout the season.

    Frederik Vesti on his new seat.

  • F2 Abu Dhabi- Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    It was a frenetic start to the final sprint race of the 2022 season, but not for Verschoor who calmly kept his rivals behind him to retain the lead off the line.

    Jehan Daruvala and Enzo Fittipaldi collided and hit the barriers at Turn 3 and bringing out the Red Flag as the end of the opening lap. Slotting back into position for the rolling restart on Lap 3, Verschoor got a good getaway to hold the lead.

    The cooler early evening conditions left the field struggling to light up their tyres. After being passed by Frederol Vesti for P11, Ayumu Iwasa attempted to go round the outside of the Dane at Turn 9.

    Out front, Verschoor was unable to pull out of Lawson’s DRS window. It wouldn’t take long for Lawson to pounce on Lap 10 – going late on the brakes to catch the Trident driver by surprise and snatch the lead.

    A lock up for VAR driver Cordeel, allowed Drugovich to slot his way through into third and left Cordeel at the mercy of Hauger, who made his own move on the Belgian into Turn 6. Missing the corner, Hauger tactically gave the place back into Turn 10, in order to avoid losing out to Sargeant and Doohan behind.

    Lawson, had extended his advantage lap-by-lap and drove off into the distance to claim victory by a whopping 7.9s ahead of Verschoor and Drugovich.

    Day 3-

    Iwasa moved to cover off his teammate immediately at the start bu Roy Nissany had the momentum. The duo remained side-by-side into Turn 2 until the Red Bull junior claimed the lead heading down the hill into the hairpin.

    Drugovich made the move for P3 immediately as Theo Pourchaire went wide in the first corner and fell back to fifth as a result.

    At Turn 6, the Carlin teammates were fighting for position, with Lawson overtaking Sargeant out of the chicane for sixth. Into Turn 9, Ralph Boschung spun and couldn’t get going again, bringing out the Virtual Safety Car.

    There was a close call for Drugovich on Lap 13, into the Turn 6 braking zone, the MP driver thought about a late dive but had to bail on the move. He narrowly avoided running into the back of the DAMS driver and dropped to over a second behind Iwasa.

    Doohan finally pitted on Lap 26 after running further than everyone else barring Enzo Fittipaldi. He looked to be re-joining fifth on the road but after filtering back out on track, lost his front left tyre, forcing him out of the race.

    Onto the final lap and the gap for the win stood at just 0.5s. Drugovich, forced Iwasa to go on the defensive into Turn 6 and had DRS once again into Turn 9. Iwasa just about held Drugovich at bay to take his second win in F2. Lawson closed up at the end to make it two podiums from two in the final weekend.

  • Boschung to continue with Campos in 2023

    Campos Racing have retained Ralph Boschung for the 2023 Formula 2 season, announcing that the Swiss driver will be continuing his partnership with the Spanish team.

    After getting his 2022 season of to a positive start with two top four finishes in Bahrain, Boschung followed this up with his first podium of the year in the Imola Feature Race.

    Unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan, after he suffered with facet syndrome and neck pain, he was forced to put out of six rounds mid-season. Despite this, Boschung immediately impressed on his return, netting a third-place finish in the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race.

    His relationship with Campos first began in 2017, where he scored their first points of the F2 season with back-to-back top eight finishes in Baku. The 25 year old reunited with the team full-time last season, going on to achieve his maiden podium in Jeddah, before claiming a second podium in Yas Island.

    I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue with Campos in F2 next year. With 2021 being my only Full F2 season, this year started so well but with the neck injury, my whole season was compromised. I have unfinished business and will want to prove that together with Campos Racing we can achieve consistently very good results.

    Boschung on his news.

    We are delighted to continue working with Ralph (Boschung), because after the health issues encountered, all we have a pending matter. Our goals together are still to be fulfilled and it will be our mission for next year, in which we expect to fight for top honours on a regular basis.

    Team Principal, Adrian Campos.

  • F2 Abu Dhabi- Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Ayumu Iwasa, hit the ground running at Yas Marina ending Free Practice being quickest of all, 0.055s ahead of Theo Pourchaire. The DAMS driver strung together his best time early on and nobody could usurp him fro the top spot in the remainging time.

    Perfect conditions were presented to the drivers as the first session of the final weekend in 2022 got underway. Following plenty of installation laps, the times tumbled as the track ramped up and Marcus Armstrong put in the early benchmark with a 1:38.987.

    Juri Vips had been running in the top three but had a lucky escape, avoiding the barriers at Turn 14 after a snap of oversteer almost led him into the barriers.

    A red flag was thrown as the clock ticked underneath 10 minutes to go as Ralph Boschung spun into the barriers between Turns 13 and 14. The session got underway with 3 minutes to go, but nobody could improve over Iwasa’s 1:38.168.

    Qualifying-

    DAMS proved that its never over until the chequered flag in Formula 2, as Ayumu Iwasa stormed to his second pole position of the 2022 season. With his teammate Roy Nissany putting together an unbelievable lap, only 0.036s down on his teammate to bring home his first front row Feature Race. Theo Pourchaire will be starting 3rd.

    Unlike previous visits to the Yas Marina Circuit, the 30 minute session got underway in the blistering mid-afternoon sunshine rather than under the flood lights.

    Seven minutes into qualifying and with only half of the field having put a lap on the board, running came to a brief hault. Virtuosi’s Marino Sato suffered a spin underneath the hotel section between Turns 13 and 14 bringing out the red flag and forcing several drivers to abandon their laps.

    As predicted pre-session, Sector 3 would prove to e the undoing for several attempts.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Iwasa, P2: Nissany, P3: Pourchaire, P4: Drugovich, P5: Doohan, P6: Sargeant, P7: Hauger, P8: Codeel, P9: Lawson and P10: Verschoor.

  • Bearman to Formula 2

    PREMA Racing have announced that Ferrari junior, Oliver Bearman will be graduating to Formula 2 with the team for the 2023 season.

    The 17 year old will be getting his first taste of F2 machinery during the post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit from November 23rd to 25th.

    Bearman steps up on the back of an impressive rookie season in Formula 3 with the Italian team, where he finished third in the Drivers’ Championship. Along the way, he claimed eight podiums, including a maiden victory in Spa-Francorchamps and his efforts helped PREMA to regain the teams title.

    The British driver, already has an impressive single-seater CV with 2023 set to be only his fourth season in single-seaters. In 2021, he broke new ground as he became the first driver to achieve two Formula 4 titles in the same year by winning the ADAC and Italian F4 Championships.

    I’m really excited to continue another year with the PREMA family, this time in F2. I’m really happy with how my first season went in F3. It was a really nice introduction and I felt like the team coached me throughout the year really well. I will continue to work hard over the winter with the Ferrari Driver Academy, in order to be fully prepared for 2023. It will be a tough challenge, but everyone works so hard and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’m already really excited for the test in Abu Dhabi and for the first round of 2023 in Bahrain.

    Ollie on his move.

    We were amazed by how quickly and successfully Ollie transitioned from F4 to Formula 3 racing. He is a really talented driver, and while he will be making his first steps in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, we are confident he will improve race by race with the support of our team and the Ferrari Driver Academy as well. It won’t be easy, because the step from F3 to F2 is considerable, but we are confident in his potential for the season ahead.

    Team Principal, Rene Rosin.

  • Fittipaldi joins RB academy

    Red Bull have added Brazilian racing driver and currently Formula 2 driver, Enzo Fittipaldi grandson of two-time former World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, to their junior academy.

    It has been a strong season for the Brazilian driver who drives for Charouz, having achieved a trio of P2 finishes and the same number of P3’s.

    Fittipaldi stated it ad been his performance back in Hungary where he finished P3 in the sprint and then P2 in the feature race which caught Red Bull’s attention before then having a meeting Marko at the Belgian GP round.

    The 21 year old, currently sits in P6 in the standings, and is one of three drivers tied on 126 points. Logan Sargeant in P3 who is set to join Williams next season should he secure his super licence, is only nine points further up, so a lot can change.

    I think after my result in Budapest, where I got two podiums on the same weekend, we started [talking more seriously]. I’ve always had a bit of contact since last year with Dr Helmut Marko and then at Spa this year we had a meeting — so after Budapest — and we were talking and I’m very happy to announce I’m now part of the Red Bull family. The junior team is an amazing opportunity for me.

    Enzo Fittipaldi on joining the RB Academy.

    It’s difficult to say now. I still have to do a really good job in Abu Dhabi. I’m fighting for third in the championship in Formula 2, I have the race this week, so it’s really important I do a good job there, so the goal is to finish top three this year. Let’s just say Abu Dhabi is very important for me. It’s very important I do a good job there. We’ll see what comes after. For sure, being part of a [Formula 1] team for me has always been a dream, especially Red Bull — the championship-winning team, the best team in Formula 1. It’s a dream for me. So all I can do is thank Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull, Christian Horner — it’s an unbelievable opportunity. Now is the time to work hard and keep pushing.

    Enzo on his future

  • Abu Dhabi Tyre Allocation

    The last race of the season is here and the tyres have been chosen for this weekend’s Grand Prix. Pirelli have nominated the three softest compounds in the range those being: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft).

    The circuit characteristics aren’t particularly demanding for the tyres, as well as the asphalt not being as abrasive, which allows the use of the softer compounds. It’s important to consider the falling track temperature during the race as the chequered flag falls late into the evening.

    The Yas Marina circuit is made up of 16 corners as well as some fast sections, where aerodynamics are an important aspect to guarantee a strong performance.

    The teams used a number of different strategies at last years Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen won the race after being on a 3 stop, as he put the soft tyres on 5 laps from the end due to a safety car appearing.

    At Abu Dhabi, a truly thrilling season comes to an end. Last year’s modifications to some of the straights and corners on the Yas Marina track have made the circuit faster, balancing the longitudinal and lateral demands on the tyres – whereas previously it was more about traction and braking. Despite these changes to the layout, there is still going to be a lot of attention paid to the rear tyres in order to guarantee the best traction over long stints. On the Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 2023 slick tyres will be tried out during a full day of testing, where the teams will be able to decide their run plans as well as which drivers to use: race drivers or young drivers..

    Mario Isla, Motorsport Director.

    Formula 2-

    Abu Dhabi hosts the final round of this year’s Formula 2 season, two months after the penultimate round in Italy. Whilst the Driver’s title is claimed, the teams title is still up for grabs. The medium compound and soft compounds have been chosen for this weekend. The Sprint race will last 23 laps, whilst the feature race will last 33 laps.

  • Maloney to drive for Trident in finale

    Trident have confirmed that Zane Maloney will be making his Formula 2 debut with the team at Yas Marina in the 2022 season finale.

    Maloney finished as runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Trident after putting together a stellar rookie campaign, taking three consecutive Feature Race wins to end the season on a high. As well as ending the year just five points behind eventual Champion Victor Martins.

    Trident team boss, Giacomo Ricci said that his strong results in F3 weren’t the only factor that impressed the team, adding that his adaptability and work ethic would put him in a good position to take on the challenge of Formula 2.

    Maloney will be joining, Richard Verschoor at the Italian team, driving the #21 car previously raced in by Calan Williams.

    We are very proud to be able to compete with Zane Maloney in the final event in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Zane, the Barbadian driver, terminated the Formula 3 Championship with three consecutive feature race victories and has proven to be second to no one in terms of competitiveness, almost winning the driver’s title. We are therefore pleased to have Zane on board, once again this year, and we are confident that Trident will be able to provide him with the maximum support and dedication for the challenging Yas Marina Circuit.

    Giacomo Ricci.

    I’m really looking forward to Abu Dhabi. It’s an opportunity to learn a lot before the end of the season and prepare me for what my future holds. Trident and I had a great year, so to do another race with them and Giacomo is a pleasure. Really looking forward to next weekend and it’s an amazing opportunity to keep improving myself on track.

    Maloney on his F2 chance.

  • Hauger to MP Motorsport

    Dennis Hauger, has confirmed his plans for the 2023 FIA Formula 2 season, where he will be swapping from PREMA Racing to MP Motorsport for his sophomore campaign in the second tier.

    The Norwegian driver has enjoyed a mixed rookie season and currently sits 11th in the standings on 98 points heading into the season finale in Yas Marina. After securing his first podium during the Imola Sprint Race, he brought home victory on his maiden appearances in Monte Carlo and Baku, before he returns to the podium in Zandvoort.

    Having taken Felipe Drugovich to the 2022 Drivers’ Championship title in spectacular fashion, MP Motorsport will be eager to retain its levels of performance next year.

    The Dutch outfit will give Hauger his first running for them across all three days of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi from November 23 – 25.

    Entering this season as the reigning Formula 3 Champion, Hauger already has five years of single-seater experience under his belt. Since his debut in British F4 in 2018, he stormed his way to the Italian F4 title the following year with 12 wins and 16 podiums, alongside finishing runner-up in German F4.

    Stepping up to F3 in 2020, he moved to PREMA for his second season and notched up four wins and nine podiums on his way to glory and remained with the Italian team for his maiden F2 campaign.

    I am really excited about joining MP Motorsport for another assault on the FIA Formula 2 Championship. MP have been the revelation of this season, consistently producing a great car for every round of the season. We have recognised that, and it’s wonderful news that we have been able to make the deal work. I’m looking forward to working with the team starting at the Abu Dhabi test, which I hope will be our jump start to a very successful 2023 season.

    Hauger on his move.

    We are absolutely delighted that someone of Dennis’ calibre will be part of our Formula 2 programme in 2023. His 2021 Formula 3 title year is still fresh on my mind – he made no prisoners and was truly outstanding. With the knowledge and experience that he has gained in his F2 rookie season, I’m positive that he will translate those into consistent pace-setting form and more results like the ones he produced at Monaco and Baku this year.

    Sander Dorsman, Team Principal.

  • Formula 2 reveal 2023 Calendar

    FIA Formula 2 have announced the calendar for the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Next season will comprise a total of 14 rounds, all support events of the FIA Formula One World Championship, as per the 2022 season.

    The teams and drivers will contest a total of 28 races, across 13 different countries in 2023. With Formula 2 also visiting a new continent for the first time in its history, with the addition of the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia.

    The seventh season of Formula 2 will begin at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 3rd to 5th, with the season concluding at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi on November 24th to 26th.

    RoundDateLocation
    103 – 05 MarchSakhir, Bahrain
    217 – 19 MarchJeddah, Saudi Arabia
    331 March – 02 AprilMelbourne, Australia
    428 – 30 AprilBaku, Azerbaijan
    519 – 21 MayImola, Italy
    625 – 28 MayMonte Carlo, Monaco
    702 – 04 JuneBarcelona, Spain
    830 June – 02 JulySpielberg, Austria
    907 – 09 JulySilverstone, Great Britain
    1021 – 23 JulyBudapest, Hungary
    1128 – 30 JulySpa-Francorchamps, Belgium
    1225 – 27 AugustZandvoort, Netherlands
    1301 – 03 SeptemberMonza, Italy
    1424 – 26 NovemberYas Island, Abu Dhabi

    “We are pleased to confirm the Formula 2 calendar for 2023 and look forward to another exciting season where the drivers will battle it out for the title and the chance to reach the highest level of motorsport. The Championship continues to play a hugely important role in nurturing the talent of the future and we are excited to see the next generation of F1 stars take to the track at 14 rounds of the 2023 season, visiting fan-favourite circuits and also travelling to the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne for the first time.

    Stefano Domenicali, President ad CEO of Formula 1.

    The 2023 F2 calendar will have 14 rounds, the same amount as the current one. In 2022, we’ve enjoyed more action than ever, with a total of 28 races, and we wanted to keep this for next season. The good thing is that there are a lot of tracks who would love to add F2 to their race weekend programme, but we always keep in mind the costs related to more racing. So, we have decided to limit the number of rounds to 14 again for 2023, and we will keep helping the teams to ensure their budgets remain at a proper level. As announced previously, we have added Melbourne to the calendar, a fantastic venue both for our teams and drivers, but also for everyone watching and enjoying F2. It will be very interesting to see our cars battling on those streets.

    Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 2 CEO.

  • F2 & F3 to use sustainable fuels from 2023

    Formula Motorsport Limited (FML) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Formula 1 Global Partner, Aramco to introduce the use of sustainable fuels in both championships from 2023.

    It demonstrates how the FIA Forula 2 and Formula 3 Championships are pioneers in this important area of development, whilst continuing to bring the FIA Formula One World Champions of the future through the single-seater pyramid.

    The agreement is subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval. It will form part of the wider sustainability strategy announced by the FIA and Formula 1 which will see the sport become net zero carbon by 2030.

    By 2026, all FIA Championships will be required by regulation to power their cars with 100% sustainable fuels. A key milestone in the journey will be the introduction of a 100% sustainable fuel from the 2026 F1 season, alongside the next generation hybrid power units.

    Sustainability is at the top of the global motor sport agenda, and it is vital to see this work not only going on in Formula 1, but also in Formula 2, Formula 3 and throughout the entire ecosystem. Our sport is developing and evolving rapidly and it will continue to lead the way, pioneering the technologies, including sustainable fuels, that will be crucial to tackle climate change. We are a key part of the solution to the problems we are facing worldwide, and the partnership is going to bring huge benefits to the sport and to the wider industry.

    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.

    Aramco is a leader in this space and, subject to the approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, will deliver our sustainable fuel ambitions, working closely with our colleagues in F2 and F3, who not only bring through the drivers of the future but offer a superb testing ground for the latest engineering in motorsport. In 2026, F1 will move to zero-emission sustainable fuel that offers a game-changing solution for the automotive sector and beyond. With the support of Aramco and all our manufacturers, we can accelerate the sector’s move to net zero.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO Formula 1.

    Sustainability is a top priority in today’s world, and we have been working on making our sport more sustainable for some time now. The goal to switch to synthetic fuel can only be achieved through the partnership with a company of the scale of Aramco, which is determined to produce advanced sustainable fuel in the near future. It’s easier to implement such a significant change in F2 and in F3, as they are single-make categories with single suppliers. We’re very happy to undertake an innovation role – as we did last season with the introduction of the 18-inch tires now used in F1 – and take the first steps towards synthetic sustainable fuel.

    Bruno Michel, CEO FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3.

  • F2 Zandvoort – Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Novalak got wheelspin from his getaway and in the second phase of the launch, Armstrong claimed the lead of the race, diving down the inside into turn 1. Novalak’s attempted defence baulked Juri Vips behind him, allowing Dennis Hauger a run alongside the Estonian at Turn 2.

    Theo Pourchaire’s tricky start to the weekend got worse on Lap 2, dropping to 21st after out-braking himself at Turn 1 and running through the gravel after an attempted pass on David Beckmann for 14th.

    A big lock up for Vips with six laps to go almost opened the door to Verschoor to seize P5 at Turn 10 but the Hitech driver gathered it up before the Trident could get close enough to pass.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Armstrong, P2: Novalak, P3: Hauger, P4: Lawson, P5: Vips, P6: Iwasa, P7: Verschoor, P8: Sargeant, P9: Doohan and P10: Drugovich.

    Day 3-

    Drugovich covered off Doohan in Turn 1 but from third on the road, Logan Sargeant locked up and ropped right to the back following a trip through the gravel at the first corer.

    But at Turn 7, Sargeant’s day went from bad to worse as the Carlin driver went into the barrier as he had contact with Boschung. The barrier required repair the race was red-flagged on Lap 4.

    Doohan had DRS on Drugovich but a big lock-up from the Virtuosi Racing driver, on lap 9 into the first corner meant he had to file back in behind with a major flat spot as a result.

    The Safety Car was out once again on Lap 17 after Marino Sato found the barriers at Turn 2, with his wheel becoming detached following his pit stop. The Safety Car was withdrawn entering Lap 22 but Lawson left it as late as possible to make his getaway.

    It caught out plenty behind and contact between several driver. Doohan was one of those who got caught up in the melee, tagged by Verschoor from behind. The Virtuosi driver was out along with Novalak and Calderon – the Safety Car was deployed once more.

    Due to delays and earlier stoppage, the Feature Race went to time rather than the full 40-lap distance. After taking the lead, Drugovich was comfortable out in front and he claimed victory to put himself within touching distance of the 2022 Drivers’ Championship.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Verschoor, P3: Iwasa, P4: Hauger, P5: Fittipaldi, P6: Cordeel, P7: Vips, P8: Beckmann, P9: Caldwell and P10: Pourchaire.

    We are back this weekend for the second to last race weekend of the season, we are in Monza for Round 13.

  • F2 Zandvoort – Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Jack Doohan picked up from where he left off just under a week ago, leading the way in P1 for Virtuosi Racing. The Australian was ahead of Ayumu Iwasa by 0.323s whilst Championship leader, Felipe Drugovich followed in third 0.402s down on the best time.

    The opening minutes were taken up by installation laps around what was quite a green track. Before any real representative times could be posted, Beckmann spun into the gravel out of Turn 13 to bring out the red flags.

    As the drivers logged the laps, the track conditions rapidly evolved and the times tumbled as a result. Amaury Cordeel was briefly quickest before Ayumu Iwasa then Frederik Vesti went fastest. Doohan restored himself back to P1 with a 1:23.133s with just under 20 minutes left.

    As the track evolution enticced the drivers to push but for Vesti, it resulted in a spin and contact with the barriers. His stranded ART Grand Prix car at Turn 2 brought out the red flags once more.

    Qualifying-

    Felipe Drugovich put himself within touching distance of the 2022 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship by claiming his second consecutive pole position, over two tenths clear of Jack Doohan and Logan Sargeant.

    Felipe Drugovich set the initial time to beat on a 1:21.915 until the fastest man in practice, Doohan restored his name to the top of the timing screens on a 1:21.760.

    Red flags with 21 minutes left were down to Pourchaire finding the barriers at Turn 3, a snap of oversteer on the corner entry sent him directly into the outside wall and required a repositioning of the barrier before getting underway again.

    Doohan’s next attempt was good but not good enough to stop the Championship leader. A second red flag with under four minutes due to Jehan Daurvala a spin between Turns 7 and 8 left the PREMA driver stuck on the sidelines.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Doohan, P3: Sargeant, P4: Verschoor, P5: Iwasa, P6: Lawson, P7: Hauger, P8: Vips, P9: Armstrong and P10: Novalak.

  • F2 Spa- Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Greeted by cold and dry conditions, the mist loomed high over the Belgian hills and there were plenty of unknowns heading into the first race of the weekend after a lack of race runs in a highly disrupted practice session.

    Whilst Ralph Boschung assumed his spot on reverse grid pole on his return to the the track after suffering an injury, Jehan Daruvala’s day was brought to an early end before the lights had even gone out as the PREMA Racing driver pulled over on the reconnaissance lap.

    Unfortunately for the Swiss driver, the Belgian circuit isn’t short of overtaking opportunities. All over the back of the race leader, the Red Bull liveried Carlin sailed up into P1 along the Kemmel Straight.

    The race made a turn on Lap 11, Logan Sargeant lost his rear end on the exit of Pouhom and skidded into the barriers, triggering the Safety Car.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Lawson, P2: Doohan, P3: Boschung, P4: Drugovich, P5: Verschoor, P6: Pourchaire, P7: Armstrong, P8: Beckmann, P9: Iwasa and P10: Hauger.

    Day 3-

    Drugovich surged off the line and Doohan cleared Enzo Fittipaldi to take second into La Source. David Beckmann followed through down the Kemmel Straight on the Charouz Racing System at Les Combes to take third.

    Theo Pourchaire’s title hopes took a major hit, as he slid down the order and out of the race with an issue. Richard Verschoor took fifth from the Charouz on the next lap, using DRS.

    Fittipaldi and Sargeant were the first to pit for mediums on Lap 8, feeding back out in 14th and 15th places respectively. Lawson responded on the following lap, but it was a slow stop for the Carlin driver.

    Juri Vips and Lirim Zendeli were the first of those on mediums to swap to softs on Lap 15 whilst Verschoor and Iwasa continued to extend their stints at the front.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Doohan, P2: Drugovich, P3: Lawson, P4: Verschoor, P5: Fittipaldi, P6: Sargeant, P7: Beckmann, P8: Iwasa, P9: Vips and P10: Novalak.

  • F2 Spa – Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Ralph Boschung got his return to the Formula 2 season off to a positive start, as the Campos Racing driver topped Free Practice around Spa-Francorchamps.

    The weather proved to be a major headache with rainfall around the track, catching a few drivers out, but it was the Swiss driver who managed to clock in a 2:01.376 finish ahead of Amaury Cordeel and Ayumu Iwasa.

    Iwasa was the first driver to set a representative time. Flourishing in these conditions the DAMS driver set out to better his by 0.742s after the first two sectors, but it wasn’t to last, fighting the car through Stavelot ended in a huge spin across the gravel to bring out the Red Flag.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Boschung, P2: Cordeel, P3: Iwasa, P4: Armstrong, P5: Zendeli, P6: Sargeant, P7: Daruvala, P8: Beckmann, P9: Sato and P10: Vips.

    Qualifying-

    Championship leader, Felipe Drugovich put in a mighty lap to take pole position for the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race ahead of Enzo Fittipaldi and Logan Sargeant.

    His closest rival in the Championship, Theo Pourchaire had to settle for eighth on the grid, meaning that the French driver will line up third on the grid for the Sprint Race.

    Juri Vips was the first to bring out a red flag due to a spin and not being able to keep his engine going. The session then resumed with 23 minutes to go and drivers got on track immediately.

    Ralph Boschung took provisional pole for Campos Racing but it was only for a moment. Jehan Daruvala and then Jack Doohan went quicker with track conditions ramping up in the closing stages.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Fittipaldi, P3: Sargeant, P4: Doohan, P5: Beckmann, P6: Lawson, P7: Verschoor, P8: Pourchaire, P9: Daruvala and P10: Boschung.

  • Zendeli to replace Caldwell

    Lirim Zendeli will be returning to the Formula 2 grid this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps as he takes the place of banned, Olli Caldwell at Campos Racing.

    Caldwell, managed to rack up 12 penalty points this season which has prevented Caldwell from being allowed to take part in this weekend’s races.

    Since loosing his seat halfway through his rookie F2 season in 2021 due to budget issues, Zendeli has only raced cars once as he made a FIA Formula 3 Championship appearance with Charouz Racing System earlier this year.

    His 2021 F2 campaign featured four points finishes in 17 races, and before that he won once across two seasons in FIA F3 and also claimed podiums in the Toyota Racing Series.

    I’m very excited and happy to be racing a F2 car again. It’s been a year now since my last time in F2 and I’m looking forward to this experience. Spa has been good to me, last time I drove there in F3 [I won]. Taking over the keys from Olli will be a big challenge but I will try my best to find the limits again as soon as possible. I also want to thank Olli and Campos for their trust in me and I’ll give it my all to return it in good results.

    Lirim Zendelli on racing in F2 again.

    After the last sanction imposed by the FIA, unfortunately, we cannot have Olli with us in this race. Zendeli comes in his place and I wish him a very good weekend, we know he has been out for a year but we hope he will have a quick adaptation to the car and I think that with all the support of the team we can have a good weekend.

    Adri Campos on the news.
  • F2 Budapest- Day 1 & 2

    F2 Budapest- Day 1 & 2

    Day 1-

    Jack Doohan ended Free Practice fastest of all ahead of Qualifying but there was almost nothing splitting him from Ayumu Iwasa, only 0.001s was the gap from the Virtuosi driver and the DAMS in P2. David Beckmann popped up into P3 for Van Amersfoort Racing, with the German driver being the only one to improve in the final 10 minutes.

    Track temperatures were quickly rising as cars took to the track. A brief yellow flag was shown for a hare dashing across the circuit on the main straight but things remained as normal with 38 minutes left.

    Birthday boy, Marcus Armstrong was the first to set a representative time to go fastest early on. That lasted until Theo Pourchaire and Frederik Vesti made it an ART Grand Prix 1-2.

    Ayumu Iwasa left the rest of the Formula 2 in the dust as he stormed his way to his first pole position in the Championship. A blistering quick 1:27.930 set in the final few minutes of qualifying allowed him to better his nearest rival HiTech Grand Prix’s Marcus Armstrong, by an astonishing 0.381s, while Felipe Drugovich narrowly pipped Theo Pourchaire.

    Few drivers improved on their second runs, as Logan Sargeant opted to peel into off into the pits rather than set a second time. Olli Caldwell was the sole driver to run in the gap. This seemed to be a smart strategy for the Campos driver who leapt up from P16 to P1.

    However, it was Iwasa’s final run on his second set of softs that proved to be the making of his weekend. Whilst Armstrong failed to improve, the Japanese rookie turned the timing screens purple.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Iwasa, P2: Armstrong, P3: Drugovich, P4: Pourchaire, P5: Sargeant, P6: Vips, P7: Vesti, P8: Hauger, P9: Fittipaldi and P10: Doohan.

    Day 2-

    Fittipaldi aced his launch from second to take the lead in the opening metres from Doohan. A huge lock up at Turn 2 though undid his hard work and allowed the Virtusoi Racing driver to snatch the lead back.

    Meanwhile, Dennis Hauger endured a poor getaway and went three wide with Drugovich and Sargeant. Contact between the MP Motorsport and Carlin pair nudged the American into Hauger on the outside, tipping the Norwegian around and out of the race at Turn 1. Sargeant was also out of the race as a result of the contact, retiring from the pits.

    The action resumed heading onto Lap 4, and Doohan bolted early to leave the rest behind. Theo Pourchaire had dropped down to 16th on the opening lap after having to avoid action from the Turn 1 melee around the outside of the corner.

    Jehan Daruvala reported that his front tyres were already gone by lap 11, and the pressure from Marcus Armstrong behind was proof of that. The Hitech Grand Prix dirver shaped for a move into Turn 1, but the PREMA driver slammed the door shut to hold sixth for the time being.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Doohan, P2: Vips, P3: Fittipaldi, P4: Drugovich, P5: Vesti, P6: Lawson, P7: Armstrong, P8: Iwasa, P9: Pourchaire and P10: Caldwell.