A revolution on the Formula 2 grid ahead of Qatar: four debutants, with Leonardo Fornaroli’s debut set for Abu Dhabi.
La stagione di Formula 2 sta volgendo al termine, con gli ultimi due appuntamenti in concomitanza con la Formula 1. We are now entering the critical phase of the Championship, with Gabriel Bortoleto, the future Sauber driver for 2025, leading the standings with just a 4.5-point advantage over Red Bull Junior Team’s Isack Hadjar.
While the Qatar round will be crucial for Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar in the title race, it will also mark the start of a new chapter for five drivers, who will either change teams or make their debut in the category during this season’s finale.
Let’s start with the most well-known driver on this list, Richard Verschoor, who leaves the Trident team, with whom he secured a victory at the most recent Formula 2 race in the Baku city circuit, to join MP Motorsport. He will replace Dennis Hauger, who has moved to America to start a new adventure in Indy NXT with Andretti.
Richard Verschoor returns to MP Motorsport, the team with which he triumphed at Macau in 2019.
For the talented Dutch driver, this marks a return to the team after competing together in two Formula 3 Championships in 2019 and 2020, highlighted by a prestigious victory in the Macau World Cup, as well as the Formula 2 Championship in 2021. In his place, Trident has decided to entrust its second car to young Max Esterson, born in 2002, who made his full-time debut in Formula 3 this season driving for Jenzer.
After a strong start to the season, including a sixth-place finish in the Sprint Race in Bahrain, Esterson faced more challenges than expected. However, he showed flashes of impressive speed, such as during qualifying at Silverstone, where he secured a remarkable second position.
Max Esterson at the wheel of the Jenzer during the Monte Carlo event. The American driver finished the season in 21st place overall.
Changes are also on the horizon for the DAMS team: replacing the departing Juan Manuel Correa, the historic French team will turn to the youthful talent of Dino Beganovic, a Ferrari Driver Academy driver, who will make his full debut in the category. The young Swedish driver is coming off a disappointing Formula 3 season, finishing sixth overall, despite being considered one of the title favorites by many in the paddock.
The AIX Racing team will once again change its line-up: alongside the surprising Joshua Durksen, Cian Shields will join, coming from the Formula 3 Championship where he raced with Hitech. Shields will be the third driver to take the wheel of the team’s number 25 car, following Taylor Barnard, who has moved to Formula E with McLaren, and Niels Koolen, who will return to Indy NXT along with Hauger.
Today, the official confirmation of a fifth driver change on the Formula 2 grid was announced: the Dutch team Van Amersfoort has confirmed the replacement of Enzo Fittipaldi, who delivered a surprising victory in the Feature Race at Jeddah, with 2003-born John Bennett.
For the young British driver, this represents a significant step forward, as he arrives directly from the GB3 Championship, where he finished in second place. Additionally, in October, he took part in the post-season Formula 3 tests at Jerez and Barcelona with the Dutch team.
Finally, there will be a driver change for the final round in Abu Dhabi, which promises to be the most intriguing: our Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 3 champion, will take Zane Maloney’s seat at Rodin. Maloney, currently in third place in the championship with a 34.5-point gap to Bortoleto, will begin his new adventure in Formula E with ABT Lola during the same weekend.
This will surely be a great opportunity for Leonardo, as he will have the chance to start his Formula 2 chapter with a race in advance. In 2025, he will join the Invicta Racing team, hoping to follow the same path as his former teammate Gabriel Bortoleto.
Formula 2 arrives in Qatar: here are the timings for the penultimate round.
Here are the timings for the penultimate round at Losail, the first match point for Bortoleto.
Friday, November 29
11.30 GMT Free Practice
16.10 GMT Qualifying
Saturday, November 30
16.20 GMT Sprint Race
Sunday, December 1
12.20 GMT Feature Race
PHOTO: Formula 2, Richard Verschoor, Max Esterson, Taylor Barnard, John Bennett, Leonardo Fornaroli.