The Starting Grid- Formula 2

Formula 2 is the FIA's premier feeder series, sitting directly beneath Formula 1. Many of the 20 drivers are affiliated with F1 teams and serve as test or reserve drivers, contributing vital simulator work throughout Grand Prix weekends. Let’s get to know the grid for 2025!

(Image credit: Official FIA Formula 2 website)

Invicta Racing fields 20-year-old Leonardo Fornaroli and 21-year-old Roman Staněk. Fornaroli is one of several rookies this season, having graduated from Formula 3 as the reigning champion after a fierce title battle with Prema’s Gabriele Minì. Born in Italy, Fornaroli boasts an impressive junior record, with strong performances in both the F4 CEZ and Italian F4 championships. His teammate Staněk, racing under the Czech flag, enters his third season in F2. Prior to this, he competed in F3 for Charouz, Hitech, and Trident and was part of the Sauber junior team.

Campos Racing continues its tradition of developing Red Bull juniors, fielding Josep “Pepe” Martí and rookie Arvid Lindblad. Martí, in his second F2 season, joined Red Bull’s programme in 2023 and has raced with Campos since 2022, under the guidance of Fernando Alonso’s management. Lindblad, just 17, steps up after a standout F3 season with Prema where he finished 4th, claiming four wins. He’s been with the Red Bull junior team since his karting days and is widely regarded as their next big prospect.

MP Motorsport takes a balanced approach with Oliver Goethe and Richard Verschoor. Goethe, 20, made his F2 debut late last season after three years in F3 with Campos and Trident. Verschoor brings valuable experience, now in his fifth F2 campaign after stints with Trident and Van Amersfoort. The Dutchman began his single-seater journey in 2016 and currently sits third in the standings.

Hitech Pulse-Eight fields a competitive line-up with Williams junior Luke Browning and Ferrari Academy driver Dino Beganovic. Browning, a GB3 and British F4 champion, joined F2 full-time this year after a partial campaign with ART in 2024. He also contributes to Williams’ simulator and trackside programmes during Grand Prix weekends. He currently sits an impressive second in the standings, ahead of teammate Beganovic. The Swede, a former FRECA champion, graduated from two seasons of F3 with Prema and joined F2 late last season with DAMS.

Prema Racing, a fan favourite, brings in two rookies: Sebastián Montoya and Gabriele Minì. Montoya, son of F1 great Juan Pablo Montoya, raced in F3 with Campos and Hitech and joined the Red Bull junior team in 2023. Minì, part of the Alpine Academy, is highly rated after finishing runner-up in the 2024 F3 season and winning the 2020 Italian F4 title. He made his F2 debut in the final rounds of last season.

DAMS Lucas Oil sits sixth in the team standings with Jak Crawford and Kush Maini. Crawford, now an Aston Martin junior, previously spent several years in the Red Bull academy. In his third F2 season, he also serves as Aston Martin’s reserve driver. His teammate Maini is one of India’s few representatives on the international stage and recently joined the Alpine Academy. He’s now also in his third F2 season, having previously raced for Campos and Invicta.

ART Grand Prix continues with Victor Martins and welcomes Ritomo Miyata. Martins, previously with the Alpine Academy and now a Williams junior, remains loyal to ART in his third F2 campaign. As a former F3 and Formula Renault Eurocup champion, Martins has a wealth of experience. Miyata, racing under the Japanese flag, joined F2 in 2024 after winning both the Super Formula and Super GT titles. He also holds championships in Super Formula Lights and Japanese F4.

Rodin Motorsport has opted for the experienced Amaury Cordeel and young Irishman Alexander Dunne. Cordeel, 22, debuted in single-seaters in 2017 and claimed the Spanish F4 title in 2018. He now begins his fourth F2 season, having raced for Hitech, Invicta, and Van Amersfoort. Dunne, part of the McLaren development programme, won the British F4 title in just his second year of single-seaters. After a season in F3 with MP Motorsport, he debuted in F2 late last season and currently leads the standings.

AIX Racing, currently ninth in the team standings, fields Joshua Dürksen and Cian Shields. Dürksen made the leap to F2 last season without a full F3 campaign but had previous success in series like F4 UAE, where he finished runner-up. Shields has a shorter resume, having only competed in four full championships prior to his F2 debut, but showed immense promise by finishing second in Euroformula.

Trident places its hopes in Sami Meguetounif and Max Esterson. Meguetounif rose through French karting and F4, finishing fourth in his maiden French F4 season before progressing to F3 with Trident. Esterson took an unconventional path, starting in sim racing before moving to Formula Ford and eventually F3 with Rodin and Jenzer. He debuted in F2 last year with Trident.

Van Amersfoort Racing rounds out the grid with John Bennett and Rafael Villagómez. Bennett, from Britain, began in saloon cars before switching to single-seaters and placing second in his third GB3 season. He made his F2 debut with VAR in 2024, skipping F3 altogether. His teammate Villagómez, a 23-year-old Mexican, spent three years in F3 with HWA and VAR before stepping up to F2, where he now begins his second season.

Written by Olivia Myers