Formula 2
O’Sullivan and Barnard get their first wins in Formula 2: MONACO REVIEW
Zak O’Sullivan and Taylor Barnard took their first ever win in Formula 2. Here’s a review of the championship’s weekend in Monaco
Formula 2 returned to racing in Monte Carlo and delivered a dramatic Feature Race on Sunday.
Formula 2 made its way to the streets of Monte Carlo for Round 5 of the championship. The narrow historic street circuit saw 2 drivers take their first ever win in Formula 2. Here’s how the weekend unfolded
Practice
As is the nature of the Monaco circuit, it offers scheduling challenges, hence the practice started on an unusual Thursday. Victor Martins began the Monte Carlo weekend impressively by setting the fastest time in a rain-affected practice session with a lap of 1:39.237. ART Grand Prix’s Martins led the field ahead of Richard Verschoor and Dennis Hauger. Heavy rain made the circuit damp and tricky, with drivers initially struggling for grip. As conditions improved, Martins maintained his lead, with Hauger and Verschoor trailing. The session faced a red flag due to Franco Colapinto’s crash but resumed briefly before worsening rain led to teams calling their cars back to the pitlane. Martins remained fastest, followed by Hauger, Verschoor, Isack Hadjar, and Zak O’Sullivan.
QUALIFYING
Qualifying in Monaco follows a unique format, with drivers divided into two groups based on their driver numbers—odd numbers in one group and even numbers in another. For this weekend, the ballot held at the pre-race weekend Formula 2 Drivers’ briefing decided the two groups for Friday’s Qualifying session in Monte Carlo. Group A will be all 11 even-numbered cars while the odd-numbered cars will participate in Group B.
Each group, consisting of 11 drivers, has 16 minutes to set their fastest time. The driver with the best overall time across both groups earns pole position for the Feature Race, with the fastest driver from the other group joining them on the front row. The grid alternates between the groups, so if a driver from Group A secures pole, all drivers from Group A will line up on the right side of the grid.
GROUP A
After completing their first flying laps, Zak O’Sullivan from ART was the fastest, with a time of 1:23.118. This put him over half a second ahead of Isack Hadjar from Campos Racing.
O’Sullivan improved his time to 1:22.202, with Verschoor close behind at just 0.113s. As the session neared its end, Verschoor took the lead with a time of 1:21.283, followed by Hadjar and Colapinto. Despite final efforts, Verschoor’s time remained unbeaten.
GROUP B
After a short break, the second set of 11 drivers took to the track with Verschoor’s 1:21.283 as the target time for pole.
Early in the session, Rafael Villagómez crashed at Turn 1, bringing out the red flags. Once the track was clear, drivers resumed with nine minutes left. Zane Maloney initially topped the timesheets with a 1:21.941, but Victor Martins soon reclaimed the lead with a 1:21.310. Roman Stanek briefly led but crashed, ending his session. Paul Aron set a 1:21.347, placing second in Group B.
As a result, Verschoor took pole for Sunday’s feature race ahead of Victor Martins.
Hadjar finished third, followed by Aron, Colapinto, and Stanek. Antonelli, Hauger, Bortoleto, and Barnard completed the top 10, with Barnard securing reverse grid pole for the Sprint Race.
After the Qualifying session concluded, three drivers received post-session penalties.
Oliver Bearman received a three-place grid drop for impeding Campos Racing’s Josep María Martí during a push lap. Juan Manuel Correa of DAMS Lucas Oil also received a three-place grid penalty for impeding PREMA Racing’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli during a push lap. Lastly, Kush Maini was given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Rodin Motorsport’s Zane Maloney. All the three drivers will serve their penalty in the next race (the upcoming sprint race)
SPRINT RACE
Taylor Barnard delivered a commanding performance starting from reverse grid Pole in the Monte Carlo Sprint Race, securing his and AIX Racing’s first Formula 2 victory.
Despite a slower start compared to Gabriel Bortoleto, who started alongside him on the front row, Barnard maintained his lead with Dennis Hauger slotting into third. The race saw interruptions with a Safety Car deployed due to Victor Martins’ crash early on with DAMS Lucas Oil’s Jak Crawford and Campos Racing’s Josep María Martí.
Barnard held onto his lead after each restart, with the race marked by incidents like Martí’s crash at the swimming pool section and Richard Verschoor’s damage from a collision. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman faced challenges, including a slow moment that dropped him to P14.
Zane Maloney’s race ended at La Rascasse after he locked up into the corner before being sent into a spin by Juan Manuel Correa. This also left Maini without a place to go causing him to stop next to Maloney. With the track blocked, it triggered a Red Flag. Racing resumed on lap 26 with a rolling start and Barnard held on to his lead. Barnard crossed the line in first, giving him and AIX Racing their maiden Formula 2 victory. Bortoleto finished in P2 while Hauger followed him across the line to take P3.
“Starting in P1, I knew it was going to be a matter of trying to keep hold of P1 at the first corner. I dreamt about this last night, coming out of the first corner in first. We had a great car today and when I got in front, I could feel straight away that I had good pace, and I just managed the pace and the car throughout the race. The mini–Safety Cars and Virtual Safety Cars and one Red Flag didn’t make my life easy to say the least. Very happy, thank you to the whole team for the car they gave me today and really happy to get my first win in Monaco.”- Taylor Barnard, AIX Racing
Antonelli finished fourth for the third time in the last four races ahead of the second MP car of Franco Colapinto. Trident’s Roman Stanek finished in sixth ahead of Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron with Campos Racing’s Isack Hadjar taking the final point in P8.
FEATURE RACE
Zak O’Sullivan clinched his first Formula 2 victory in a thrilling Monte Carlo Feature Race, capitalizing on a late Virtual Safety Car period to secure the win. Starting from P15, O’Sullivan opted for a longer first stint. A Virtual Safety Car caused by Joshua Duerksen’s stoppage on track worked in his favor, allowing him to pit and emerge in the lead on the penultimate lap. In the final lap, O’Sullivan held off Isack Hadjar to claim the victory, with Hadjar finishing second and Paul Aron taking third.
Here’s how the race unfolded:
Richard Verschoor made a strong start from Pole position for Trident, but Victor Martins struggled off the line, allowing Hadjar and Aron to move up. Further back, Gabriel Bortoleto made full use of his supersoft tyres to overtake Dennis Hauger and Oliver Bearman.
The race saw its first incident with Jak Crawford’s retiring after colliding with Kush Maini at turn 7.
The first round of pit stops came for everyone who started on super soft and it was Verschoor who held the net race lead, before losing it to Isack Hadjar on lap 25 who overtook him going into turn 1. Trouble continued for Verschoor, who kept losing places in the following laps and eventually retired after a penalty and ongoing issues.
On Lap 36, Hadjar hit the wall but continued, facing pressure from Aron. Meanwhile, Maloney and Barnard made contact, affecting their race.
Towards the end with 2 laps to go, everyone except O’Sullivan had made their mandatory pit stops and Isack Hadjar had the net race lead and was P2 on the road behind O’Sullivan. The drama unfolded as Joshua Duerksen, who was next to pit collided with Maloney at Turn 1. The AIX driver stopped on track while the Rodin Motorsport driver continued on.
This gave Zak O’Sullivan the chance to come in from the lead to complete his mandatory pit stop. He was called in by ART moments before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, this was crucial as pit stops under the VSC don’t count towards the mandatory pit stop, but since O’Sullivan came in before the VSC was deployed, his stop under the VSC was legal.
O’Sullivan came out ahead of Hadjar and held him off in the final lap to take his maiden win in Formula 2.
Aron crossed the line to finish third to take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship. He finished ahead of Bearman in fourth and Correa in fifth, while Hauger wound up in sixth. Antonelli, ended up in P7 ahead of Bortoleto and Martins, as Maloney rounded out the points positions in 10th.
“Just won the Feature Race in Monaco, bit of a crazy race starting from 15th, didn’t really expect it but pace was strong and again luck was on my side with the VSC at the end. But super happy for the team, it’s been a tricky start to the year but it’s finally good to get a big result and a big boost for the rest of the season.” – Zak O’Sullivan, ART Grand Prix
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Paul Aron’s consistent performance has propelled him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship, marking the first time this season that someone other than Zane Maloney leads. Aron’s fifth podium finish of the year has earned him 80 points, placing him ahead of Isack Hadjar by just two points, who now holds second place. Zane Maloney currently sits in third with 69 points, followed by Dennis Hauger in fourth with 56 points, and Gabriel Bortoleto rounding out the top five with 50 points.
In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing maintains its lead with 104 points. Hitech Pulse-Eight’s strong performance moves them up to second place with 95 points, narrowly ahead of MP Motorsport in third with 94 points. Rodin Motorsport slips to fourth with 85 points, while Invicta Racing completes the top five teams with 84 points.
UP NEXT
The championship will take a 3-week break before resuming things in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from June 21-23.
Formula 2
Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
Arvid Lindblad becomes the youngest-ever winner and Richard Verschoor takes the championship lead in a thrilling Formula 2 weekend in Jeddah.
As Formula 2 wrapped up Round 3 of the 2025 season under the lights of Jeddah, the championship delivered yet another action-packed weekend. Richard Verschoor finally secured a win that wasn’t taken away by penalties or post-race investigations, while Arvid Lindblad made headlines by becoming the youngest race winner in Formula 2 history. Here’s everything you need to know from the action-packed weekend in Jeddah
Read More: Formula 2 Heads to Jeddah for Round 3 of the Championship: What to Expect
Martins Sets the Early Pace on Friday
Victor Martins wasted no time showing his speed, topping the timing sheets in the sole free practice session on Friday. The session began with Joshua Dürksen setting the early benchmark at 1:49.034, before Martins responded with a 1:47.735—a time that would continue to drop as the session unfolded.
Kush Maini then jumped to the top with a 1:46.437, putting himself three-tenths clear of the field. However, his DAMS teammate Jack Crawford closed that gap down to just 0.013s moments later. Martins wasn’t done yet, reclaiming the top spot with a 1:46.432. Maini soon returned to the pits and would remain there for the rest of the session, suggesting a possible issue with the car.
Dürksen briefly returned to P1 before the session entered its final minutes, but Martins once again delivered, posting a 1:45.671, the fastest time of the session. Sebastian Montoya also had a noteworthy session, finishing sixth fastest before coming to a halt on track as the session concluded.
Montoya comes to a halt off-track as the session draws to a close, having finished sixth fastesthttps://t.co/qLgyAl7LUL#F2 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/xp33vN4uhX
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 18, 2025
Jack Crawford Snatches Pole in the Dying Minutes at Jeddah
Jack Crawford left it late but delivered when it mattered most, snatching pole position in the final moments of qualifying.
It was Victor Martins who initially set the benchmark, going fastest on the first round of flying laps with a 1:44.559—three tenths clear of the rest of the field. But the pace quickly ramped up on the second push laps, as Arvid Lindblad jumped to the top with a 1:44.250.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, the field returned to the track for a final push. Gabriele Minì briefly took the top spot before being displaced by Luke Browning. The session was then interrupted by a red flag after John Bennett found the barriers at Turn 17.
With only five minutes left on the clock, the session resumed, and tensions were high. Martins looked poised to reclaim pole, but it was Jack Crawford who delivered a blistering lap to edge him out by just 0.022s, securing his second career pole in Formula 2 and the first for DAMS since 2023.
Leonardo Fornaroli rounded out the top three, with Browning in fourth and Lindblad settling for fifth. Alex Dunne and his Campos teammate Josep María Martí locked out the third row in sixth and seventh, respectively, while Minì, Verschoor, and Roman Stanek completed the top 10.
Kush Maini qualified 12th and will line up from P12 for both the Sprint and Feature Races this weekend.
Arvid Lindblad Becomes the Youngest Race Winner in Formula 2
History was made in Jeddah on Saturday as 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad became the youngest race winner in Formula 2 history, delivering a composed and mature drive to victory in the Sprint Race.
The reverse grid format initially placed Roman Staněk on pole, but the Czech driver was handed a three-place grid penalty for both races after impeding Alexander Dunne during qualifying. This handed Richard Verschoor the pole position for the Sprint.
Verschoor made a clean getaway and held the lead into Turn 1. However, the action behind was immediately disrupted as Cian Shields of AIX Racing clipped the barrier at Turn 1 and came to a stop on track, bringing out a Virtual Safety Car (VSC).
Once racing resumed on Lap 3, the Campos Racing duo wasted no time. Josep María Martí quickly moved up the order and passed Verschoor to take the lead, but the Dutchman came back just a lap later, reclaiming the position with an aggressive move that ultimately earned him a 5-second time penalty for forcing Martí off the track.
Moments later, Lindblad made his move on Martí to climb into second place, setting the stage for a tense final stint.
The race was neutralised again after Jack Crawford collided with Gabriele Minì, spinning out at Turn 1. Following a brief safety car period, racing resumed on Lap 18, with Verschoor still leading on the road, followed closely by Lindblad and Martí.
Verschoor crossed the finish line first, but his time penalty dropped him to P4, handing the win to Arvid Lindblad, who etched his name into the record books with a historic performance. Alex Dunne was promoted to P3, joining Lindblad and Martí on the podium.
“Really happy with the result today, youngest ever F2 race winner. A huge thank you to the team, a really good race coming from P6 to P1. A shame to Richard for the penalty, but super happy to win and looking forward to tomorrow now.” – Arvid Lindblad.
Richard Verschoor keeps a win he earned
Richard Verschoor would not get his win taken away this time around as the MP Motorsport driver makes the alternate strategy work to perfection to win the Feature Race on the streets of Jeddah.
Jack Crawford got the perfect start off the line to keep his lead going into turn 1 ahead of Victor Martins, both starting on the traditional supersofts. Further back, Richard Verschoor, who started the race from 9th position, would gamble his race on the alternative strategy.
The first round of pit stops came around lap 7 when those on the supersofts came into the pits to get rid of them and put on a fresh set of mediums. This put Richard Verschoor in the clean air, and gave him a chance to push on the mediums he started his race on. Meanwhile, after the pit stops, Jack Crawford and Victor Martins duelled it out to keep the track position for the net race lead, with Crawford staying ahead of the Frenchman.
On Lap 24, Verschoor finally came into the pits to put on a set of Supersofts and start his hunt for the race win. Verschoor would come out in 4th, slotting in ahead of Martins and just behind Crawford, with the top two yet to pit. At the start of Lap 28, the final lap, Richard Verschoor would drive past Jack Crawford with the help of DRS on the main straight and take the lead of the race, having started all the way back at 9th on the grid.
The chequered flag would drop and Richard Verschoor would win the Feature Race, making him the fifth different winner in 5 different races. Jack Crawford would follow in second with Victor Martins rounding out the podium.
“To be honest, when the race started, I wasn’t happy with the balance. But the more the race went on, the car came alive. I think we were the fastest car on track even though we were on the opposite strategy.” said Richard Verschoor
Josep María Martí finished fifth for Campos, followed by Luke Browning, Arvid Lindblad, Alex Dunne, Gabriele Minì, and Kush Maini, who rounded out the points in tenth.
Championship Standings
Richard Verschoor takes the lead of the Drivers’ Championship thanks to his win in the feature race, while a strong weekend from both Campos drivers helps them take the lead in the Teams’ Championship.
Straight to the 🔝
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 20, 2025
Verschoor's Feature Race victory sends him to the summit of the Driver Standings 👊
And Crawford's exploits see him surge into the top 10 🚀#F2 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/UrjRlRQN3V
Campos keep their lead…
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 20, 2025
…but MP Motorsport are now their nearest challengers 💥#F2 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/I6KfsZZsgA
Up Next
Formula 2 takes a short break before returning to action in Imola for Round 4 of the championship from 16th to 18th May.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Formula 2
Formula 2 Heads to Jeddah for Round 3 of the Championship: What to Expect
As Formula 2 heads to the high-speed streets of Jeddah, the championship battle heats up with rookies leading the charge and unpredictability defining the season’s early momentum.
Formula 2 is headed to Jeddah for its first double-header of the season, fresh off the conclusion of Round 2 in Bahrain. With only two rounds and three races completed (the Feature Race in Melbourne was cancelled due to rain), the championship remains wide open, and no clear leader has emerged yet. We’ve seen three different drivers from three different teams take victory in the last three races, highlighting just how competitive this season is shaping up to be.
With Jeddah’s high-speed corners and technical challenges, it’ll be exciting to see who comes out on top this weekend. Here’s what to look forward to:
Read More: Formula 2 Bahrain Weekend Review: Rookies Shine in Bahrain
Kush Maini Looks to Reignite His Form from Last Year
Kush Maini hasn’t had the start to the season he was hoping for. After two rounds, he’s yet to score a point, with a best finish of 16th. Having switched teams at the end of last year with the goal of mounting a serious championship challenge, the opening two weekends have been underwhelming, to say the least.
Fortunately for him, he’s now heading to a track that holds some great memories for him. Last year in Jeddah, Kush took pole position and followed it up with a strong second-place finish in the Feature Race.
“The biggest challenge is to put a lap together. You can’t lose focus, the intensity is high the whole way, which I really enjoy as a challenge.” said Kush Maini
Another factor that works in his favour is that the current championship leader has just 26 points, meaning a strong result this weekend could throw him right back into the mix at the top. As always, hopes are high for the Indian driver, and all eyes will be on him to see if he can bounce back in style.
Difficult weekend but leaving Sakhir with clarity on what we can improve on as a team @damsracing
— Kush Maini (@kmainiofficial) April 14, 2025
Looking forward to Jeddah, a track with good memories, having started from Pole last year pic.twitter.com/UFJTgUU8p1
Prema Looking to Return to Winning Ways
Prema is a team that’s used to being at the top. As the most successful outfit in the feeder series, their 2025 campaign has been surprisingly quiet so far, they’re yet to step onto the podium, let alone claim a win in Formula 2 this season.
The team showed promise during the in-season test in Bahrain, however, that momentum didn’t quite carry into race weekend, as Prema walked away from Round 2 with just four points.
Now, they return to a venue where their record speaks volumes. Statistically, Prema is the most successful team in Jeddah, having taken three race wins on the Saudi streets—Oscar Piastri (Sprint Race 2 and Feature Race, 2021) and Frederik Vesti (Feature Race, 2023).
Armed with a strong and promising driver lineup of Gabriele Minì and Sebastian Montoya, Prema will be aiming to reignite their title push this weekend. They’ll certainly be one of the teams to watch under the lights in Jeddah.
Leonardo Fornaroli Wants to Continue His Run of Good Form
In a season where multiple rookies have impressed so far, Leonardo Fornaroli has emerged as the standout performer. The Italian currently leads the championship, having scored two podiums in the first three races, including a stunning pole position in Bahrain.
The stats are in his favour heading into Jeddah as well—Invicta Racing were competitive at this circuit last year, taking both a pole and a podium. That momentum seems to have carried into 2025, with the team showing strong pace once again.
Invicta are looking to build on their successful 2024 campaign, where they clinched both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships, and with Fornaroli in top form, they’ll be aiming to extend their lead in the standings this weekend.
Can the Rookies Continue Their Strong Start?
The top two drivers in the current standings are rookies, and an impressive five rookies sit within the top ten of the Drivers’ Championship. While only one of them, Alex Dunne – who won the Feature Race in Bahrain – has taken a victory so far, the rookies have undoubtedly made their presence felt.
Leonardo Fornaroli and Alex Dunne lead the way, but there’s more to come from the likes of Arvid Lindblad and Gabriele Minì, two highly rated young talents who are yet to fully showcase their potential. Both drivers are widely regarded within feeder series circles and are expected to deliver big results.
Jeddah presents a unique challenge. With none of the rookies having raced here before, it will be interesting to see whether the more experienced drivers can capitalize, or if the rookies will once again adapt quickly and continue their standout form.
All to play for in Jeddah
This is the closest the standings have been heading into Round 3, with just six points separating the top five drivers in the Drivers’ Championship. Leonardo Fornaroli leads the way with 26 points, but with the field so tight, any driver who delivers a strong weekend could find themselves right in the title fight.
Formula 2 remains as unpredictable and competitive as ever; a strong result in one round is no guarantee of success in the next. For example, Fornaroli qualified 10th in Melbourne, but came back to take pole in Bahrain the very next round. Similarly, Rodin Motorsport won both races in Bahrain last year, only to struggle for pace in Jeddah the following weekend.
It’s that very unpredictability that makes Formula 2 so exciting, and with everything still wide open, it’s truly all to play for in Jeddah. We look forward to another thrilling chapter in this already fascinating season of F2.
Where to Watch Formula 2 in India
You can watch all the sessions of Formula 2 live in India on Fancode or F1TV. The schedule for the weekend in IST is given below.
Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Formula 2
Formula 2 Bahrain Weekend Review: Rookies Shine in Bahrain
Formula 2 made its first stop of the double-header in Bahrain, in a weekend where Rookies proved their mettle.
Bahrain delivered a thrilling spectacle to the 2025 Formula 2 season, with rookies proving that they’re ready to shake up the grid. From unexpected poles to last-lap heroics, the desert drama set the tone for what promised to be a fiercely competitive campaign.
(Credit – feederseries.net)
Qualifying: Fornaroli Storms to Maiden Pole
Last year’s Formula 3 champion, Leo Fornaroli, stunned the field by grabbing his first-ever F2 pole position. The Italian rookie edged out experienced Frenchman Victor Martins to secure the top spot, delivering a confident statement in his debut qualifying session.
Behind them, Luke Browning and Alex Dunne locked out the second row in P3 and P4 respectively. Speaking after the session, Dunne said, “Not happy, but not unhappy,” suggesting he still had more pace to extract.
The third row featured a more seasoned duo — Roman Stanek and Richard Verschoor, both looking strong heading into the weekend.
On the other end of the spectrum, Indian driver Kush Maini struggled for pace, qualifying down in P20, and leaving himself a mountain to climb in both races.
Nice. 👌
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 11, 2025
Fornaroli's quickest time can't be beaten as he picks up his first #F2 pole position 👏#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/8FP1ZYf2sz
Sprint Race: Pepe Marti Masters the Chaos
Starting from P11, Pepe Marti lit up the track with a storming drive in Saturday’s Sprint Race. The Spaniard launched off the line, gaining five positions on the opening lap to sit P6. He held station until Lap 16 when a late-race Safety Car was triggered by Max Esterson’s retirement on track.
At the restart, Marti wasted no time overtaking Villagomez into Turn 1 and capitalizing on a scrap between Richard Verschoor and Alex Dunne just ahead. By Lap 22, chaos among the top three gave Marti the perfect opportunity – he picked off his rivals and soared into the lead as they crossed the line to start the final lap.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 12, 2025
P11 to P1, that's WHAT 🤯
VAMOOOOOS PEPE!!! 💪💪#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/XKi6IGH5gK
From there, it was all about defence. Marti expertly held off a late charge from Verschoor in the MP Motorsport car to claim a brilliant Sprint Race victory.
What exactly do you say when you cross the line after a race like that?!
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 12, 2025
Take it away, Pepe 🗣️#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/DEINLKbxyI
Drama Behind the Winner
Joshua Dürksen crossed the line in P3, but post-race scrutineering revealed a technical breach, leading to his disqualification. As a result, Dino Beganovic was promoted to the podium.
Leo Fornaroli, after starting P8 due to the reversed grid, had a muted race, losing one position and finishing P9. Meanwhile, Victor Martins, who started in P7, had a disastrous opening lap, dropping to the back of the field and finishing well outside the points.
One of the standout performances came from Oliver Goethe, who climbed ten positions from P15 to P5 — showcasing both speed and racecraft.
Not the start Victor Martins would have wanted 😬
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 12, 2025
He sends pieces of polystyrene flying and drops to the back of the pack#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/zbSHG1n4cL
Formula 2 hits a big milestone
The Feature Race marked Formula 2’s 200th race start, showing the considerable success of the feeder series.
TWO. HUNDRED. RACES.
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 13, 2025
And we’re just getting started! 😉
A massive thank you to everyone who’s helped us reach this incredible milestone ❤️#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/P3p85hxva9
Feature Race: Alex Dunne Dominates to Make History
After a disappointing Sprint Race where he finished P19, Alex Dunne came back swinging in Sunday’s Feature Race. Starting from P4, the Irish rookie had a lightning launch, jumping to P2 by the end of the first lap. He stayed locked in behind pole-sitter Leo Fornaroli until Lap 6, when he lined up the overtake — and made it stick at the start of Lap 7 to take the lead.
When the pit window opened, Dunne’s team pulled the trigger early, calling him in on Lap 17 to cover off a potential undercut from Fornaroli. From there, it was a masterclass in race management. Dunne pulled away in the second stint and crossed the finish line with a commanding 8.244-second lead — securing his first-ever Formula 2 victory and becoming the first Irish driver to win in the series.
HISTORY MADE IN OUR 200TH RACE!!!!! 🎉
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 13, 2025
A FIRST #F2 VICTORY FOR IRELAND!!! 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
ALEX DUNNE, TAKE A BOW!!! 🙌🙌#BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/fXITfpTbnc
Pepe Marti The Master Of Starts
After Pepe’s brilliant Sprint Race, he said on his team radio, “Try and do it all over again, shall we?” and he did exactly that. Starting from P11 once again for the Feature Race, Marti had a storming start, gaining 6 positions on Lap 1. He moved up into P4 soon enough after overtaking Roman Stanek. Coming into Lap 7, he pulled a brilliant move on Villagomez, placing him in the Top 3. At the first round of pitstops, he got undercut by Luke Browning which dropped him back to P4. Marti made a valiant effort to get back into the top 3.
Fornaroli Takes Debut Podium
Leonardo Fornaroli started on pole for the feature race. He dropped to P2 losing the lead to the storming Alex Dunne on Lap 7. Come to the end of the race, he had a brilliant battle with Pepe Marti for the final podium spot after he was also jumped by Luke Browning in the pits.
Taking the plaudits on the podium from the Feature Race 🏆
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 13, 2025
🥇 Dunne 🇮🇪
🥈 Browning 🇬🇧
🥉 Fornaroli 🇮🇹#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/urEw3DFo63
A weekend to forget for Kush Maini
It was a tough weekend for the Indian Driver. Having qualified in P20, he had his work cut-out for him. In the sprint, he moved up 3 positions to P17, and for the Feature Race he managed to move up into P18. It was a learning weekend for Kush – hopefully he can iron out the issues and move closer to the top in Saudi next weekend.
Difficult weekend but leaving Sakhir with clarity on what we can improve on as a team @damsracing
— Kush Maini (@kmainiofficial) April 14, 2025
Looking forward to Jeddah, a track with good memories, having started from Pole last year pic.twitter.com/UFJTgUU8p1
Driver Standings
After the weekend in Bahrain, the Driver Standings have closed up at the top with 2 rookies topping the standings.
As for the constructors, Hitech GP stands on top after this round, jumping up 3 spots from where they were after Round 1 in Australia, with Campos Racing trailing behind by 6 points. Invicta Racing isn’t far off either being just 1 point away from Campos Racing.
MP Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport are in a fight for 4th in the Constructors having 27 and 25 points respectively
It's shaping up to be a fierce battle at the front 👀#F2 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/oOwmVt7iJN
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 13, 2025
Hitech TGR are the big winners after the #BahrainGP weekend, rising to the top of the #F2 Team Standings 💪 pic.twitter.com/AVwGHTaczu
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) April 13, 2025
Next week in Jeddah
It’s a doubleheader for the Feeder Series. After two gruelling races in the desert, they will go racing in Saudi next, a track known for its dangerous walls and high speeds. The drivers will need to have utmost precision throughout the weekend.
Saudi is known to be a stronger track for some drivers including the Indian driver Kush Maini, who took pole position last year round. He’ll be hoping to learn from the last 2 race weekends and return to form in Saudi.
Something to look at is the rookies that are currently atop the WDC Standings. Will they be able to continue their run and leave the field behind? Or will they drop off in the next few rounds?
Difficult weekend but leaving Sakhir with clarity on what we can improve on as a team @damsracing
— Kush Maini (@kmainiofficial) April 14, 2025
Looking forward to Jeddah, a track with good memories, having started from Pole last year pic.twitter.com/UFJTgUU8p1
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