As the FIA Formula 2 championship gears up for its penultimate weekend in Lusail, Motorsport Week gives you the lowdown on all the news since its last outing at Monza.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar are separated by just four-and-a-half points in the Brazilian’s favour, who is looking to supplement his forthcoming Formula 1 debut with Sauber next year by going out on the biggest high possible.
Red Bull young driver Hadjar is breathing down Bortoleto’s neck, with outsider Zane Maloney now firmly out of contention, as Lusail will be his final F2 weekend before jetting off to São Paulo for his Formula E bow with Lola Yamaha ABT.
Many teams are already looking ahead to 2025, with many new drivers and retentions announced, plus the addition of new drivers to fill the gaps for the remaining races.
Fornaroli and Beganovic among drivers to see action in final rounds
Leonardo Fornaroli, Cian Shields and Dino Beganovic are three drivers who will be seeing action in a Formula 2 car before the conclusion of the championship.
Fornaroli, who snatched the Formula 3 title in the final few yards of the final round at Monza, will take the reins at Rodin for the final weekend in Abu Dhabi, replacing the outgoing Maloney.
The Italian will then link up with Invicta Racing for the 2025 season, taking Bortoleto’s vacant seat.
Shields, who completed his debut season in F3 this year, will take over the second seat at AIX Racing from Lusail onwards, replacing Niels Koolen.
Beganovic, a Ferrari Academy driver and two-times F3 winner in 2024, will take the place of Juan Manuel Correa at DAMS for the final two weekends.
Another new inclusion is that of young British talent John Bennett, who makes the step up from runner-up in the GB3 Championship to a chance with Van Amersfoort, replacing Enzo Fittipaldi.
Bennett took 11 podiums this season, including three wins, and has also seen F3 action post-season tests in Jerez and Barcelona.
Verschoor to return to MP starting in Lusail as Browning earns F1 chance
Richard Verschoor will return to MP Motorsport for 2025, and immediately jump back into one of its cars from Lusail onwards, replacing Dennis Hauger, who will focus on his upcoming bow in America with Andretti in the Indy NXT series.
American Max Esterton, who made his F3 debut with Jenzer this year, will step into the vacancy left by Verschoor at Trident.
British driver Luke Browning, who finished third in F3 and made his Formula 2 debut in Baku with ART, will get the chance to test a Formula 1 car next week in FP1 ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Browning, a member of Williams Racing Academy, will drive the FW46 in the first Friday session, often reserved for F1 teams’ younger drivers.
He will also partake in the end-of-season test at the Yas Marina circuit, as well as completing the F2 campaign.
Looking ahead to next year, Christian Mansell, who made his F2 debut with Trident in Baku and will complete the season with the team, will return next year full-time with Rodin Motorsport.
READ MORE – Exclusive: Williams Academy Driver Luke Browning is targeting the 2025 F2 title
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