NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 05: Pole position qualifier Isack Hadjar of France and Campos Racing (20) celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of Round 8 Silverstone of the Formula 2 Championship at Silverstone Circuit on July 05, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Isack Hadjar took pole and a win in Silverstone to retake the Formula 2 championship lead in Silverstone. Here are the storylines from the weekend.
Disaster Weekend for Paul Aron
Paul Aron coming to Silverstone had a podium each round, this streak ended in Silverstone. Not only did he fail to score a podium, but he also didn’t score any points at all. The Estonian driver qualified P12 after making an error and spinning out with 10 minutes left in the session. This left him with major flat spots while everyone else improved their times. In the Sprint Race Aron collided with Martí and it left both out of the race. In the Feature Race, Aron finished outside the points in P12. Having lost his Championship lead, Aron would be looking to take it back in Hungary.
Isack Hadjar had a mixed weekend but most of it was on the good side. Qualifying on Pole, Hadjar started the Sprint race in P10. The Campos driver beached his car on lap 8 straight into Copse. The next day in the feature race Hadjar had a bad start starting from pole and fell back. Hadjar then drove brilliantly to come back into the race and was running P2 behind Crawford. A 5s time penalty for Crawford meant Hadjar who was only 2.5s behind would take the victory after the penalty was applied.
(Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Heading into Budapest as the championship leader, Hadjar would look to extend his lead on top.
“Race winner on Sunday, unfortunately not on track like we wanted. But still, it was a really fun race with lots going on and I managed to bring those points home. Already looking forward to Budapest.”
Isack Hadjar after the feature race
Zane Maloney takes Double Podium
Maloney didn’t get any race wins but scored 2 crucial podium finishes to climb up to 3rd in the championship standings. An uneventful sprint race as Maloney started P2 and finished P2 as well. The Feature Race however was anything but uneventful. The Bajan driver had a great start to move up 3 places. He then went on to manage his tyres and pace well to finish P2 after Crawford’s penalty. After scoring 0 points last weekend, Maloney would be happy to bounce back with two P2s.
(Image: Formula 2 via Getty Images)
Andrea Kimi Antonelli gets his first win.
The Mercedes Junior was having a lackluster season in Formula 2, delivering performances below everyone’s expectations of him. The prime candidate for the Mercedes seat, he had to step up to show everyone that he deserved the seat. Having started from the reverse grid pole in the Sprint Race, Kimi excelled in mixed conditions to finish P1.
“Got my first win, really happy with the result. It was a difficult race in difficult conditions, but we managed pretty well and I’m really happy to bring home the first win of the season.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelly
The feature race ended early for the Italian after being sent into a spin by Kush Maini on the opening lap. An overall decent weekend and the Sprint Race victory will only motivate him to push for being constantly at the front.
Image credits: Formula 2 via Getty Images
Mixed weekend for Kush Maini
The Indian driver had another mixed weekend in Silverstone, similar to what he had in Austria one week back. The pace was looking strong for Maini in qualifying, but traffic hampered his final push lap resulting in him qualifying P8. On the reverse grid for the Sprint Race, Maini started P3 and finished P3 too, but the race was not as simple as it looks like. The Alpine junior driver was holding position in mixed conditions after being under constant pressure from his teammate. On the last lap, Bortoleto made a move on Maini on the last corner, overtaking him to finish P3. Later on the stewards deemed the move illegal, as Bortoleto overtook outside the track. This resulted in Maini getting back the 3rd place.
In the feature race, Maini tapped Kimi from behind, sending the Prema driver into a spin and giving Maini damage. This forced Maini to make an early pit stop. After that, the race was pretty much uneventful for the Indian who crossed the finish line in P19. Maini also got a 10s time penalty for the opening lap incident, but that didn’t affect his finishing position.
Championship Standings
Isack Hadjar moves to the top of the Championship ahead of Paul Aron, 133 points to 117. Zane Maloney improved his position in third, now on 101 points with Gabriel Bortoleto fourth on 98. Franco Colapinto is P5 on 92 points.
In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing lead with 171 points ahead of MP Motorsport in second on 158. Invicta Racing are just two points back in third position, while Hitech Pulse-Eight and Rodin Motorsport round out the top five with 142 and 120 points respectively.
Formula 2 will take a week off and head to Budapest for Round 9 of the championship from July 19-21.
DTM, 5. + 6. Rennen Norisring 2023 - Foto: Gruppe C Photography
The only street circuit in Germany will play host to Round 4 of the DTM Championship. Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde arrives in Norisring as the championship leader. But the lead is only 8 points to Mirko Bortoloti in second. A race winner scores 25 points, and that is the gap between first and ninth in the championship standings.
The six races of the championship till now have seen 5 different winners. Kelvin van der Linde would love to change that and become the only other two-time winner this season after Jack Aitken. A strong weekend can see him leave Norisring as the championship leader.
“I always had the pace there to be at the front, but so far not the necessary luck.”
The Audi driver has done well in Norisring, he has had 3 podium finishes in 4 races. This time around, he’d want to be on the top step of the podium.
#3 Kelvin van der Linde (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)
Home Race for Marco Wittmann
The BMW Factory driver, Marco Wittmann arrives at his home race weekend and there couldn’t be a better time for him. Wittmann scored his first win of the season in Zandvoort last round.
With 10 DTM race weekends under his belt, no one knows Norisring as well as Wittmann.
“The challenge is special because you drive extremely close to the guard rails, there are no run-off areas and you therefore cannot afford to make a single mistake,” explains Wittmann.
His game plan: “You have to be extremely focused and concentrated. The Norisring may only have four corners, but that is exactly what makes the track so difficult. Because the lap times are very close together. That is what makes the Norisring special, as is the unique flair and atmosphere.”
#11 BMW M4 GT3: Marco Wittmann (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)
The unique challenge of Norisring
The only street circuit has only 4 corners, just two sharp bends, and almost the entire straight ahead at full speed. But the track comes with its own set of challenges. Instead of run-off areas or gravel beds, the road is mostly limited by walls or crash barriers. Before the hairpin bend at Dutzendteich and the Grundig bend, the drivers have to brake hard, and in between the spectators experience full-throttle racing with slipstream duels. In addition, the Norisring is by far the shortest track on the calendar at 2.162 kilometers.
Norisring Track Layout (Image: DTM)
Arjun Maini looking to continue his strong season.
Arjun Maini is having his strongest season in DTM yet. The Indian driver has been constantly putting in performances that see him at the top end of the grid. Recently in Zandvoort, Maini scored his first podium of the season. Just 20 points off the top of the standings, Maini can mount a serious championship challenge if he keeps making such consistent performances. The Mercedes driver would also be looking to score his first win in the championship at a track where he got his first podium in his debut season.
#36 Arjun Maini (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)
Timings and Where to Watch
You can watch all the DTM action live on Fancode in India. Full timings in IST are given below:
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 28: Paul Aron of Estonia and Hitech Pulse-Eight (17) drives on track during practice ahead of Round 7 Spielberg of the Formula 2 Championship at Red Bull Ring on June 28, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
It’s the final leg of the triple header and Formula 2 will be in town for Round 8 of the championship. Halfway through the season, and it still feels too early to call the championship. Here are the storylines heading into Round 8 of the Formula 2 championship.
Paul Aron is still at the top
The Estonian driver has continued his streak of scoring a podium in every round of the championship. A P3 in the Sprint and a P5 in the Feature Race helped Aron stay at the top of the championship. Still yet to win a race this year, he could be eyeing the top step in Silverstone.
Paul Aron of Hitech Pulse-Eight (17) (Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Bortoleto is fresh off of a win
The reigning F3 champion got his first win in F2 last weekend in Austria. This helped the McLaren junior climb 3 spots from before in the championship standings. Sitting third in the championship, Bortoleto would look to build on his win last weekend and close the gap in the championship. Sitting just 32 points off the lead, the next few rounds could prove pivotal for the Brazilian if he wants to mount a championship challenge.
Gabriel Bortoleto of Invicta Racing (10) (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Win and a Promotion within a week for Bearman
Oliver Bearman had been having a lackluster season in Formula 2 till now. Having impressed in his Rookie season last year, there’s something about the new-gen cars that doesn’t click for Bearman. Coming into Austria the Prema driver had scored just 18 points in 5 rounds (he missed the Saudi round to fill in for Carlos Sainz). However, in Austria, the Ferrari Academy driver got his first win of the season. On the reverse grid, the Brit started on the front row, a good start helped him lead into turn 1 which he converted into a race win. It was announced today that Bearman will drive for Ferrari customer Haas F1 Team in 2025.
Kush Maini had a disappointing time out in Austria. The Indian driver scored only 2 points in the weekend, both of which came in the sprint race. Having started on reverse grid Pole position for the sprint race, Kush failed to convert it into a win. He lost ground at the start and just couldn’t turn things around in the race, losing more positions to eventually finish 7th. In the feature race, he stalled on the grid, forcing him to start from the pitlane. To come back from a pitlane start in the race was a tough ask, especially when there were no safety car interruptions. The Alpine Academy driver finished 17th in the race.
Coming into Silverstone, Kush has said it’s his favourite track on the calendar. The Track has also given at least 1 F2 driver their first win in the championship since 2020. Could this be the fateful weekend that Kush needs?
📊| Since 2020, Silverstone has given at least 1 F2 driver their first win in the championship: Yuki Tsunoda in 2020 Richard Verschoor in 2021 Jack Doohan in 2022 Victor Martins in 2023
Kush Maini earlier said that Silverstone is his "favourite track of the year"
This weekend in FP1 we have a few of Formula 2 drivers making an appearance in Formula 1’s First Free Practice session.
Isack Hadjar will return to drive for Red Bull Racing, jumping into Sergio Perez’s car. He made two FP1 appearances in 2023 – one for AlphaTauri (now RB) in Mexico, and one for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi. Williams Junior Franco Colapinto will be with the British team. The MP Motorsport driver is 5th in the standings and enjoyed a Feature Race podium last time out in Austria. Oliver Bearman who’s already been confirmed to drive for Haas in 2025 will be making another Practice appearance for the team. Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan will drive Pierre Gasly’s car in FP1 this weekend.
Timings and Where to Watch
You can watch all the sessions live in India on Fancode or F1TV. Full schedule of the weekend in IST is given below:
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 30: Race winner Gabriel Bortoleto of Brazil and Invicta Racing (10) celebrates in parc ferme during the Round 7 Spielberg Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Red Bull Ring on June 30, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Another weekend of Formula 2 wraps up. Gabriel Bortoleto scored his first win in Formula 2, and Oliver Bearman got his first win of the season. The Indian driver Kush Maini had a tough outing in Austria, leaving with only 2 points in 2 races. Here is how the Austrian leg of the triple header unfolded.
The only practice session of the weekend was topped by Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman, who’s looking to regain the championship lead started the weekend strong. The championship leader, Paul Aron, was close behind him in second. It was another close session, with the whole grid separated by just over a second. Kush Maini spent some time in the pits fixing what looked like brake issues. The Indian finished the session 21st, +1.084s off the top. Campos Racing’s Josep María Martí was disqualified from the final classification. The Spaniard could not provide the minimum 0.8kg fuel sample required by Article 6.3.1 of the FIA Formula 2 Technical Regulations.
Kush Maini’s car is being worked on in the pits. (Image: F1TV)
Qualifying
Isack Hadjar maintained momentum from Practice to set an early benchmark time in Qualifying. The Campos Racing driver set an opening time of 1:15.828, and championship leader Paul Aron slotted in 2 tenths behind. Returning to the pit lane after the first runs, Hadjar had smoke running out of his car. Forcing the Frenchman to end his qualifying early.
The final few laps started coming in with 5 minutes left in the session. Dennis Hauger topped the time sheets with a 1:15.487. Duerksen was close behind, just 0.008s off Pole. Gabriel Bortoleto rounded off the top 3.
Dennis Hauger of Norway and MP Motorsport (11) (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Franco Colapinto qualified fourth, ahead of championship leader Paul Aron. Taylor Barnard came in 6th, putting both AIX cars in the top 6. Isack Hadjar’s first lap was good enough to put him in 7th with his teammate Josep María Martí alongside him in 8th. Oliver Bearman and Kush Maini came in 9th and 10th, making the front row for the reverse grid Sprint Race.
Sprint Race
Kush Maini started on Pole and had Ferrari Junior Oliver Bearman alongside him on the front row. Kush Maini again failed to get a good start from the pole, dropping down to P3 in the opening lap. Whereas Oliver Bearman got a superb launch to take the lead in the race at the start. Josep María Martí overtook Maini to take second place on Lap 1.
Start of Sprint Race (Image: Formula 2 media)
By the halfway stage Maini started to struggle and the distance between him and Marti in 2nd kept increasing. Eventually, Maini lost his podium place to Aron, followed by his teammate dropping him down to P5.
In the end, it was Bearman who maintained his lead from the start to finish first and took the Sprint Race victory in Austria. Marti finished second, while Aron held off Bortoleto to take the final podium position. Maini was overtaken by the two MP Motorsport drivers with Hauger finishing 5th, Colapinto in 6th, and Maini in 7th. The final point was scored by Duerksen for AIX.
Race winner Oliver Bearman of PREMA Racing (3) takes the chequered flag during the Round 7 Spielberg Sprint race of the Formula 2 Championship at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
“Happy to be back on the podium, it’s been a tough run so far, so I’m happy to finally get a result that the team deserve. We’ve been working really hard, and we are getting towards where we want to be, so let’s go get some good points tomorrow.”
Oliver Bearman after winning the sprint race
Feature Race
There was drama before the race even started. Multiple drivers stalled on the grid during the formation lap including Pole sitter Dennis Hauger. Kush Maini and Jack Crawford were the other two to stall, the 3 drivers would then start from the pitlane.
Out on track, Duerksen was the lead car on the grid. He got off the line well to lead the race ahead of Bortoleto and Colapinto in third. Bortoleto made a move down the inside at turn 4 on Lap 4 to the lead from Duerksen. Colapinto overtook him next, dropping Duerksen down to P3.
Start of Feature Race (Image: Formula 2 Media)
Zane Maloney stopping on track brought out the VSC briefly, and racing resumed after the car was recovered. The first round of pit stops as drivers opting for the supersofts came in to switch to softs. Marti came in before Bortoleto and the undercut worked as Marti now had the effective race lead. Bortoleto would then take the lead from Marti on lap 18. On lap 24, the two Campos cars changed positions as Hadjar overtook Marti.
Colapinto came into the pits on lap 32 from the race lead. Having opted for the alternate strategy, the MP Motorsport driver was now on fresh supersofts. He came out of the pits in P8 and quickly started making his way up the grid. By lap 38, the Argentine was up to P4, he then overtook Marti on the next lap. On the final lap, Colapinto overtook Hadjar to take second from him. However, it was Bortoleto in the front who drove brilliantly to take his first win in Formula 2.
Race winner Gabriel Bortoleto of Brazil and Invicta Racing (10) (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Colapinto took P2 ahead of Hadjar, with Martí in fourth and Fittipaldi in fifth. Aron’s penalty dropped him to P6 ahead of Duerksen and Amaury Cordeel, with Taylor Barnard in P9 and Zak O’Sullivan rounding out the points P10 for ART Grand Prix.
“P1 today in the Feature Race, so happy, it’s a special track for me. I always have good memories here, and finally I could get my first Formula 2 win. I’m super super happy, thanks to the team, McLaren and everyone that supported and helped me get on the biggest step on the podium today.”
Gabriel Bortoleto after winning the feature race.
Championship Standings
In the Championship standings, it’s Paul Aron who maintains his lead at the top. Bortoleto now slots in 3rd thanks to his Feature Race win. The Indian driver Kush Maini remains 8th in the Standings.
The F1 driver market in 2024 has been everything but straightforward. It all started when Lewis Hamilton announced his shocking departure from Mercedes. He was leaving a team that had been with him from the start of his career. All of his 7 World Championships came with Mercedes power. He left the Stuttgart team to join the team in Maranello. Statistically, the most successful driver on the grid was on his way to the most successful team on the grid.
With Carlos Sainz out of a seat, he became the hottest prospect on the driver market. Every team that had a seat available wanted to get a Spaniard in it. He had proved he was a good midfield driver during his Renault/McLaren days, and when he got a competitive Ferrari, he showed he had it in him to fight for wins too.
Carlos Sainz is a very crucial driver to understand and put together the driver market for 2025. His single move to a team determines the placement of all other drivers. Williams, Audi (currently Stake Sauber), and Alpine are showing interest in the Spaniard. It’s up to Sainz to decide where he wants to drive next year. In an ideal scenario, Sainz would’ve liked to remain in a top team, either with Red Bull or Mercedes. But with Red Bull confirming Perez alongside Max and Mercedes in no hurry to make their decision, Sainz would have to settle for a lower-table team.
Audi has been clear from the start, that they want Carlos Sainz in the team. The team earlier signed Nico Hulkenberg who was a no-brainer, a German driver in a German team. Sainz has been offered a very lucrative deal to join the project. However, Sainz is interested more in performance than money. Audi which is currently Sauber sits at the bottom of the Constructor Standings. With Audi coming in 2026, the team would still take a few years to move up to the top half of the field. So while monetarily the deal sounds good, on the performance side it’s not so much. For Audi, the other option would be Esteban Ocon, who left Alpine and is considered a strong midfield driver. Another option would be to re-sign Valterri Bottas who is already at the team and is a former race winner with another German team on the grid.
Alpine’s second seat.
Ever since Flavio Briatore joined the Enstone team, the rumours of Alpine wanting Sainz have picked up the pace. Alpine wants to move up the field quickly and is making its decisions to align them on this path. Bringing Briatore back into the team as an executive advisor was part of it. Signing Carlos Sainz would be a statement of intent from the team. They have already confirmed Gasly on a multi-year deal, bringing some consistency in their future. On the second seat, should Sainz decide not to partner up with Gasly the other option would be Jack Doohan.
The Alpine Academy driver who finished 3rd in Formula 2 last year is currently the team’s reserve driver. Promoting him to the team will also show the team’s confidence in their academy and junior drivers. Another option would be to bring the ex-Alpine Academy driver Zhou into the team. The Chinese driver will most probably end up without a seat next season with Audi (Sauber) showing no interest in him. Alpine can also promote other Academy drivers, Victor Martins or Kush Maini, should either one of them have a stellar Formula 2 campaign in the remainder of the year.
Williams Rebuild
Williams under James Vowles are on their way to the front. The team has shown promise and an uptick in form compared to their previous years. Recently the team announced the hiring of top technical talent from around the grid. Carlos Sainz is the driver that the team wants to lead its rebuilding. Sainz is also said to be inclined more towards Williams out of all his offers. Vowles’s leadership and a promising Mercedes engine in 2026 are what attract the Spaniard to the team.
Williams also has Bottas as their backup plan in case Sainz doesn’t join them. The Finn started his career with Williams and would come to a full circle should he end up there. Another option could be to bring Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli to the team. But with the Italian all but confirmed for Mercedes, this outcome could be an unlikely one.
VCARB’s Dilemma
VCARB or RB was quick to extend Yuki Tsunoda’s contract with the team. It’s the other seat they have a dilemma about. Daniel Ricciardo needs no introduction, and it is safe to say he brings in wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. However, his performances are not meeting the standards he has set for himself, something he has also said multiple times. RB is a junior team, on the grid to train young drivers before they step up to Red Bull Racing. In that sense, the team might think about promoting Liam Lawson.
The Kiwi turned out for the team last year during Ricciardo’s injury phase and impressed everyone. Should RB promote Lawson, that would mean Ricciardo would be available on the driver market. If you’re a team that’s looking for a driver with experience and a wealth of knowledge, it’s a no-brainer for you to sign Ricciardo. Teams like Audi or Williams should try and get the Australian’s signature should he be dropped by RB.
Junior drivers set for promotions
Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli who are currently teammates at Prema in Formula 2 are all but confirmed to get their Formula 1 call-ups. Oliver Bearman who subbed at the last minute for Carlos Sainz is vouched to get a seat at Haas for next year. The Brit impressed everyone on his Formula 1 debut for Ferrari, scoring 6 points. He was also voted the “Driver of the Day” by the fans.
Bearman’s current teammate might end up partnering George Russell at Mercedes. The Italian already has enough super license points to his name. Just 17 years of age, he has won 4 Feeder Series titles in the last 2 years. He was also promoted to Formula 2 after just one year in the Formula Regional European Championship, where he won the title. Mercedes would look to bring Kimi into the team to secure their future. With Lewis Hamilton out of the team, George Russell automatically takes the leadership role within the team. Kimi is someone they can bring into the team in 2025 and prepare him for the future. Bringing someone like Sainz could hamper the team dynamics as neither Russell nor Sainz would settle to be the ‘Second Driver’. The team has learned its lessons from 2016 and would want to have a compatible driver pairing at their helm.
Mercedes also has another out-of-the-box option for their vacant seat, signing Max from Red Bull. It is no secret that Red Bull is having internal conflicts within the team. From Horner’s scandal at the start of the year to Newey leaving the team more recently, the Austrian team might be losing its stability. Mercedes would do anything to bring Max into the team. Jos Verstappen has also been very vocal about not being a fan of Horner lately. His most recent comments came today calling Horner “childish”.
Max has said that he is happy where he is now. Red Bull offers him the chance to fight for championships. Max himself too is very comfortable with how the car behaves and can drive it according to his preference. In the recent few races, it is Max who has won the races from others rather than the car who has won it for him. So it’s safe to say that Max might not leave Red Bull for a much inferior Mercedes, but in the silly world of F1, you just never know.
Max: "I have a long contract with the team and I’m very happy with where I’m at…"
Spectators during the FIA Formula One World Championship 2023 in Spielberg, Austria on July 2, 2023 // Lucas Pripfl / Red Bull Ring // SI202307020692 // Usage for editorial use only //
Halfway into the 2024 season, Formula 2 will make a stop at Austria for Round 7 of the championship. Paul Aron leads the championship standings with just 9 points separating him from the Frenchman Isack Hadjar. In the Team Standings, it’s a solitary point that separates the top two. Campos Racing leads Hitech Pulse-Eight, with MP Motorsport and Invicta Racing close behind.
Paul Aron is having a debut season even he wouldn’t have expected. The Estonian driver has scored a podium in every single round till now. Championship leader with 100 points, he is yet to step on the top step. Can he finally get on the top step in Austria?
Before this, Isack was on a brilliant run, scoring 73 points in the last 3 rounds before Spain. The first 2 rounds of the championship are what could hurt Hadjar potentially in his championship fight. He scored only 5 points in the first 2 rounds, which again came at the sprint race in Bahrain. He would love to go back to winning ways in the Red Bull Ring, being a Red Bull Junior.
“It’s not going really well,” said Hadjar assessing his season as a whole.
“We had a few good rounds, I think the first two rounds didn’t really favour us.
“For me, the Championship started in Melbourne and since then we have been competitive. I’m happy with that and I think we have a really good chance to take the lead soon,” said Hadjar.
DAMS looking to continue form
DAMS Lucas Oil had their best weekend of the season in Spain. The team won both the Sprint and Feature Race with both their drivers stepping on the top step. Correa even made it a double podium for the team in the Feature Race by coming in 3rd after making the best out of his alternative strategy. Spain was the first time the team won since Monaco last year. Before Spain the team had scored a total of 46 points, in Spain alone, they scored 46 points. They currently sit 6th in the standing with 92 points.
“Let’s be humble, no big expectations,”
said Yannick Hubert, team principal of Dams
“First, we have to understand what we need in Austria, we know that it’s a Mickey Mouse track, very narrow, very small, so it will be a different challenge, so nothing to compare with here. We just have to be very focused on the next event as a single event and do the job,” said Hubert.
Kush Maini would want to build on his Spain performance
Kush had a tough few rounds before Spain, scoring only 1 point. It was later found out that his car suffered from a broken chassis. The problem having been solved in Spain did give results, with the Invicta driver scoring a podium in the Sprint race. In the Feature Race, Kush opted for the alternative strategy, which is to start on Hards and then switch to Softs towards the end. This proved fruitful as he finished P6 having started P10 in the race. When he came out of the pits he was P15, he then put in a string of consistent fast laps to move up 9 places in almost as many laps to add 8 points to his tally.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 23: <> during the Round 6 Barcelona Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Formula 2 made its first stop of the triple header in Spain. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosted Round 6 of the Formula 2 championship. Having hosted several weeks of testing here before, many of the drivers were coming to a track they have driven a lot on.
Paul Aron came into the weekend as the championship leader while Campos was leading the team’s championship. Kush Maini was looking to bounce back after having scored just 1 point in the last 2 rounds.
Free Practice
Championship leader Paul Aron set the pace in Free Practice. The Estonian driver was the fastest with a time of 1:26.922. Enzo Fittipaldi was second quickest, just 0.136 down on Aron with Colapinto rounding up the top 3.
Paul Aron of Hitech Pulse-Eight (17) (Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Qualifying
Paul Aron continued his strong pace from Free Practice to take his first pole in Formula 2. Aron put in a time of 1:25.385 to set the benchmark in the initial run. Taylor Barnard went off at Turn 9 and into the barriers causing a red flag in the session. As a result, the winner from Monaco will start both races from the back of the grid. The session resumed with a few more drivers going out to complete their first flying laps and Isack Hadjar removed Aron from the top of the timing sheet with a time of 1:25.205.
Pole position qualifier Paul Aron of Estonia and Hitech Pulse-Eight (17) (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
With under 10 minutes to go, the drivers headed out for their second run on fresh softs. It was Aron once again who climbed to the top with a time of 1:24.766. Jack Crawford joined Aron on the front row with just 0.002s off. Colapinto rounded the top 3 with a time of 1:24.772. Gabriel Bortaleto joined Colapinto on the second row, 0.055 off of pole. Antonelli finished inside the top 5, narrowly ahead of Ritomo Miyata in 6th.
“I did the in-season test here and have driven the track in other categories, so I have experience around this track whereas before in earlier rounds, it was the first time driving the track for me, which is difficult with Practice only being 45 minutes.
“But I have F2 experience around Barcelona, so that’s why I can fight for the top positions in Qualifying.”
Said Ritomo Miyata after qualifying 6th, his best ever this season.
Further down the order, it was Joshua Durksen in 7th, Juan Manuel Correa in 8th, and Victor Martins in 9th. Kush Maini qualified in P10 and got the Pole for the reverse grid Sprint Race.
🏁| A very close qualifying ends in F2.
Paul Aron takes pole with a gap of +0.002s 😳 Top 4 within one-tenth of a second!
🇮🇳 Kush Maini qualifies in P10, +0.433s off the front. He gets pole position for tomorrow's sprint race! #Formula2pic.twitter.com/yYxhGwWjcY
Kush Maini started the sprint race on pole and had fellow Alpine Academy driver Victor Martins on the front row. At the start, Martins got off the line well while Maini suffered wheel spin which dropped him to fourth. Ritomo Miyata got a good start from 4th on the grid as he went ahead of Maini and Correa to take 2nd in Turn 1.
Onto Lap 2, Maini made his way back to podium places after overtaking Correa in turn 1. Further down, the fight for the final few points-paying positions was intensifying. Antonelli and Hadjar fought hard early on for the seventh position.
Victor Martins kept putting in solid lap times to distance himself from Miyata. By lap 10, Martins had pulled 1.5s ahead of Miyata, with Maini close 1.1s behind in 3rd. Hadjar finally cleared Antonelli on Lap 12. The Italian was then soon overtaken by Crawford who took the final point-paying position from him.
Ritomo Miyata got two 5s time penalties for track limits violations, which meant Maini would finish P2 if he stuck close behind. With Miyata’s penalty, the battle for the final podium position heated up. On the penultimate lap, Correa overtook Bortoleto to take 4th place (3rd after Miyata’s Penalty). Bortoleto kept falling behind with both Aron and Crawford overtaking him for 5th and 6th.
In the front, however, it was the Frenchman who took the chequered flag. Martins scored his first win since Silverstone 2023. Maini finished 2nd, taking his 3rd podium of this season.
Correa took 3rd place but was handed post-race penalties which promoted Aron to the final step of the podium. Crawford and Bortoleto rounded up the top 5. Hadjar, Miyata, and Correa finished in 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively, the final points-paying position of the race.
Multiple post-race penalties were awarded for track limit violations. 7 drivers got a total of 10 5s time penalties between them after the chequered flag.
Feature Race
Championship leader Paul Aron started on Pole position with Jack Crawford alongside him on the front row. Aron got the perfect launch at the start, leading Crawford and Colapinto into turn 1. It was not the same for Victor Martins who made contact with Dennis Hauger. Both drivers were spent spinning into the gravel at Turn 2. With both drivers out of the race, Safety Car was deployed to recover the cars.
On lap 8, the pendulum swung towards those who opted for the alternative strategy, starting on Hard tyres. Joshua Durksen was the first to benefit, overtaking Hadjar who was on Softs for fifth position. Crawford pulled the trigger first, he came in to get rid of his Softs and take a new set of Hards. Aron was called into the pits on Lap 12, he came out ahead of Crawford but the DAMS driver overtook him through turn 3.
Taylor Barnard had a weekend to forget. Having started last he came to a halt at the pit lane entry. VSC was deployed to recover the car. Going into Lap 16, Aron lined up a move on Crawford but due to a snap of oversteer, he slid off the road, dropping 3 spots before joining in 11th.
With 10 laps to go, Correa, who was leading the race on Hards came into the pits. Maini followed him to switch to Softs. Correa came out in 9th while Maini was in 15th. Both drivers made maximum use of their fresh softs and charged up the grid. On Lap 33, Correa made his way to the final step on the podium, overtaking Aron on Turn 1.
Maini moved up to 7th and was looking to overtake his teammate for 6th into Turn 1 on the final lap. The two teammates made contact, leaving Bortoleto with front wing damage while Maini moved up to 6th.
A last-lap collision between the Invicta teammates! 😬
Jack Crawford won for the second time in F2, his first this year. Taking full advantage of his tyre strategy and the mistake made by Paul Aron. Colapinto came home in 2nd, his first feature race podium. Juan Manuel Correa returned to the podium after 5 years in 3rd.
Race winner Jak Crawford of United States and DAMS Lucas Oil (7) (Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Aron finished fourth, maintaining his Championship lead over Hadjar, who came in fifth. Maini crossed the line in sixth, followed by Bortoleto in seventh. Maloney, Cordeel, and local favorite Josep María Martí racing for Campos Racing, completed the points positions.
“We just won the Feature Race and it’s a huge result for DAMS. We did a really risky strategy and it paid off in the end. I’m so happy for the team and JM, it’s a good result for everyone.”
Said jack crawford after winning the feature race.
Championship Standings
Aron extended his championship lead after Round 6 in Formula 2. Jack Crawford moved up 6 places, thanks to his feature race win. Kush Maini is currently 8th in the standings, 50 points behind the championship leader.
Top 10 in Driver Standings (Image: Formula 2)Team Standings (Image: Formula 2)
Up Next
Formula 2 heads to the Red Bull Ring for Round 7 of the championship from June 28-30. This is their second stop in the triple-header, before heading to Silverstone. Catch all the action live on F1TV and Fancode.
After almost a month, Formula 2 is back this weekend. The championship heads to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for its first stop in the upcoming triple header.
Image credits: Formula 2 Media
Season till now
Formula 2 has seen 5 rounds of action till now and it’s the rookie Paul Aron who leads the championship with 80 points. Performing well above his own expectations, Aron has taken 5 podiums in 5 rounds. Just 2 points behind sits Isack Hadjar. Hadjar was looking to get a hattrick of Feature Race wins in Monaco but a late VSC disrupted his plans. Having taken just 1 point in Monte Carlo, Zane Maloney now sits 3rd in the standings.
The teams’ championship is heating up as just 10 points separate the top 3 teams, the top 5 separated by 20. Campos Racing leads the championship heading into their home race with 104 points. Hitech Pulse-Eight and MP Motorsport sit behind the Spanish team in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Kush Maini looking to bounce back
After having a very strong start to the season, Kush Maini had an underwhelming performance in the last 2 rounds. The Indian driver scored just 1 point in the last 2 rounds, having scored 33 in the first 3. It was later discovered that he was driving a cracked chassis in those 2 rounds. Maini will get a new chassis in Barcelona.
It is understood that Kush Maini had a cracked chassis in Imola and Monaco, explaining his underwhelming results in those rounds. Maini will get a new chassis in Barcelona this weekend, and we can expect him to be fighting at the front again like before.#Formula2pic.twitter.com/6LyJ2zmJeM
“I think it’s a great test track, when you come through junior formulas you drive a lot in Barcelona, so it’s a track I think every driver knows it quite well. It’s a track you’re comfortable with, so for the first time in the car it’s an easy track to get to grips with. Obviously, I was with a Spanish team last year, so I lived in Spain, so Spain is always close to my heart, I really like the place.
Image credits: Formula 2 Media
“Overtaking is a bit more difficult than other circuits, but I think now with the last sector how it is, it’s quite fun, with the two high speed corners at the end it makes it quite physical as well, so I think if you get a good run out at the last corner, Turn 1 is a great opportunity. But it’s a track where you have to look after your tyres and try and attack at the end of the race when others are struggling.
“I always hope to get pole, I think that’s a great thing to achieve in F2 with a Championship this competitive and a Feature Race win I think that’s where the big points are, so that’s a dream weekend.”
Said kush maini speaking to formula 2 before the weekend.
Schedule and Where to Watch
You can watch all the action live on Fancode or F1TV. The full schedule in IST is given below:
📅 | Here is the weekend schedule for Formula 1's 🇪🇸 Spanish GP and it’s feeder series.
The Madras International Circuit buzzed with excitement as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 unfolded over the weekend.
Qualifying Highlights
On Friday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru dominated the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The two 17-year-olds, representing TVS Racing, claimed the top two positions, with Chavan setting a pole time of 1:51.688. Gusto Racing India’s Sairahil Pillarisetty from Hyderabad followed closely behind. Chavan also secured pole position in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, indicating his potential for a double victory.
Sarthak Chavan of TVS Racing (Image: Anand Philar)
Equally noteworthy was the performance of 17-year-old Abdul Basim from Chennai, who claimed pole in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Former National champion Ann Jennifer led the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan from Chennai topped the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) category.
Abdul Basim who qualified on Pole in Novice category (Image: Anand Philar)
In the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, Mallapuram’s Mohsin Paramban, 22, secured pole position in the NSF 250R category. He narrowly edged out 15-year-old Rakshith S Dave from Chennai, with Shyam Sundar also from Chennai, rounding out the top three. Mohsin’s hot lap of 01:51.187 was just ahead of Rakshith’s 01:51.218, while Shyam posted a time of 01:71.708.
The TVS Racing One-Make Championship saw Chennai’s Manoj Yesuadian setting the pace in the Open (RR 310) class qualifying session. Followed closely by Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore and Ajai Xavier M from Nagercoil. In the Rookie (Under-23) (Apache RTR 200) category, Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath topped the qualifying session. Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar and Thrissur’s Saranjith KM completed the front row.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan concluded the day by comfortably securing pole position in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) class, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig. Coimbatore’s Aisvarya V trailed by three seconds.
Race Day Triumphs
Saturday’s races saw the spotlight on the Dave twins from Chennai. Rakshith Dave, 15, triumphed in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) race, while his sister Rakshitha secured her maiden win in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Another set of siblings, KY Ahamed and Abdul Basim, also from Chennai, each won a race in their respective categories.
Rakshitha Dave and Rakshith Dave (Image: Anand Philar)
In the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, Sarthak Chavan continued his excellent form by leading a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing alongside Chiranth Vishwanath. Despite a red flag that shortened the race to four laps, Sarthak maintained his composure and crossed the finish line first. However, in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, he faced a setback, crashing out while leading. KY Ahamed took advantage and claimed victory in a tight finish ahead of his TVS Racing teammate, Jagan Kumar.
Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win
Also finishing on the top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), who won the Novice 301-400cc class. The class gained National championship status this season.
Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing), who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win, with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.
KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race (Image Anand Philar)
Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing), and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.
Rakshitha Dave on way to winning the Girls (Stock 165cc) race (Image: Anand Philar)
“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.
In the TVS One-Make Championship Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.
Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled by Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).
On Sunday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan, Rakshitha Dave, Abdul Basim, and Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan each clinched double victories in their respective categories.
Seventeen-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune established himself as the frontrunner in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open class, winning both races in commanding fashion. Despite a strong challenge from fellow 17-year-old Chiranth Vishwanath of Bengaluru, who secured second place in both races, Sarthak’s pace proved unbeatable. The duo’s performance left the rest of the field competing for the remaining podium spot.
In the Pro-Stock 165cc category, Sarthak experienced a setback when a collision with Chiranth while battling for the lead caused him to crash. Although both riders rejoined the race, veteran TVS Racing teammates Jagan Kumar, KY Ahamed, and Deepak Ravikumar capitalized on the opportunity to finish in that order. This marked Jagan’s first win of the season after a challenging 2023.
Jagan Kumar (center), winner of the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, flanked by KY Ahamed (left) and Deepak Ravikumar. (Image: Anand Philar)
Chennai schoolgirl Rakshitha Dave, at just 15 years old, delivered a flawless performance in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Following her victory in Race-1 on Saturday, Rakshitha secured an unchallenged win in Race-2, further establishing her dominance in the field.
Another standout performer from Chennai, Abdul Basim of Rockers Racing, achieved a clean sweep in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Abdul won Race-2 with ease, mirroring his performance in Saturday’s race, and showcasing his consistent form and skill.
Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan also notched a double victory in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) class, leading from pole position in both races and demonstrating his racing prowess.
The Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup saw an impressive ride from Shyam Sundar of Chennai, who won the NSF 250R race after starting from P4 on the grid. Shyam skillfully navigated through the front-runners to secure victory, with Mallappuram’s Mohsin Paramban finishing second and Saturday’s winner, Rakshith Dave from Chennai, taking third.
The TVS One-Make Championship witnessed a stellar performance from Senthilkumar C of Coimbatore. He won both races in the Apache RR 310 category, continuing his relentless pace from Race-1 on Saturday to top Race-2, ahead of Chennai riders Manoj Yesuadian and Jayanth P.
Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar continued his dominance in the Rookie category, winning Race 2 after his triumph on Saturday. Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath took second place, while Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished third, completing the podium.
Earlier in the weekend, Sarthak Chavan comfortably topped the TVS Electric RTE race, with his rival Chiranth Vishwanath finishing second and Chennai’s Alwyn Sundar taking third.
Novice – Stock 165cc: 1. Abdul Basim S (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (02:08.076); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:09.417); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (02:10.686).
Girls (Stock 165cc): 1. Ann Jennifer AS (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:10.201); 2. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:10.381); 3. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (02: 10.799).
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
The 2024 season of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship is set to kick off with an electrifying first round at the Madras International Circuit from June 13 to 16. The event promises high-octane action with 19 races lined up and over 100 riders from across India, representing 16 teams.
The championship will feature two prominent Pro-Stock classes: the 301-400cc Open and 165cc Open. These categories will showcase the skills of the country’s top riders on TVS, Honda, Yamaha, and KTM machines, making for a highly competitive and thrilling spectacle.
Image: Anand Philar
In addition to the Pro-Stock classes, the championship will also include several novice categories for stock bikes. These include the 165cc (under-23), Girls (165cc), and 301-400cc classes, all of which have attracted a significant number of entries, highlighting the growing interest and talent in the sport.
The event will also feature two One-Make Championships (OMC) organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). These include the TVS OMC, which will feature races in the Open, Rookie, Girls, and Media categories, showcasing the RR 310 and Apache RTR 200 bikes. Additionally, the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup will see riders compete on the swift NSF 250R machines, with TVS also hosting a race for their Electric RTE bikes.
Image: Anand Philar
Continuing their tradition, both TVS and Honda have conducted trials across India to shortlist riders for their respective categories, with a focus on nurturing young talent. Select riders, based on their performance, have been given the opportunity to compete at the Asian level, further emphasizing the championship’s role as a breeding ground for future stars.
In a significant development, the 301-400cc Novice category has been elevated to National Championship status, underscoring the growing competitiveness and popularity of this class. Additionally, the number of races in the National Championship Girls category has been doubled from five to ten, with a double-header in each of the five rounds, providing more opportunities for female riders to shine.
Ajit Thomas, President of MMSC, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “We are extremely pleased to have received well over 100 entries for the two-wheeler National Racing Championship, which will commence this weekend. We extend a warm welcome to the competitors, our long-time sponsors MRF Tyres, the manufacturers, and the media for the 2024 season. We are confident that the championship will deliver its share of wheel-to-wheel racing, given the very competitive grids. The championship has been a stepping stone for aspiring young riders who have competed in international races and won accolades. We are hopeful that the new season will throw up fresh talent.”
With a packed schedule and a diverse lineup of categories, the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 is poised to deliver an unforgettable season of racing action. Fans can look forward to witnessing some of the best motorcycle racing talent in the country battle it out on the track.
