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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.

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3 months ago

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JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 20: Richard Verschoor of Netherlands and MP Motorsport (6) leads Jak Crawford of United States and DAMS Lucas Oil (11) on track during the Round 3 Jeddah Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Credits: Formula Motorsports Limited

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 wasnā€™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 DĆ¼rksen setting the early benchmark at 1:49.034, before Martins responded with a 1:47.735ā€”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 wasnā€™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.

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
Kush Maini in the pitlane with the engine cover off his car. Credits: F1TV

DĆ¼rksen 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.

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 1:44.559ā€”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 MinƬ 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.

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 18: Pole position qualifier Jak Crawford of United States and DAMS Lucas Oil (11) celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of Round 3 Jeddah of the Formula 2 Championship at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Leonardo Fornaroli rounded out the top three, with Browning in fourth and Lindblad settling for fifth. Alex Dunne and his Campos teammate Josep Marƭa Martƭ locked out the third row in sixth and seventh, respectively, while MinƬ, 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).

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
Verschoor leads the pack at the start of the Sprint Race in Jeddah. Credits: Formula Motorsports Limited.

Once racing resumed on Lap 3, the Campos Racing duo wasted no time. Josep MarĆ­a MartĆ­ 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 MartĆ­ off the track.

Moments later, Lindblad made his move on MartĆ­ to climb into second place, setting the stage for a tense final stint.

The race was neutralised again after Jack Crawford collided with Gabriele MinƬ, 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 Martƭ.

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 MartĆ­ on the podium.

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
Arvid Lindblad won the Sprint Race on Saturday in Jeddah. Credits: Formula Motorsports Limited.

ā€œReally 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.ā€ – 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.

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
Jack Crawford leads at the start of the Formula 2 Feature Race on Sunday. Credits: Formula Motorsports Limited.

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.

Verschoor finally keeps his win as Lindblad writes history: Formula 2 Round 3
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 20: Race winner Richard Verschoor of Netherlands and MP Motorsport (6) celebrates on arrival in parc ferme during the Round 3 Jeddah Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

“To be honest, when the race started, I wasnā€™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 Marƭa Martƭ finished fifth for Campos, followed by Luke Browning, Arvid Lindblad, Alex Dunne, Gabriele MinƬ, 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.

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.Ā is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us onĀ Twitter/X,Ā Instagram, andĀ LinkedInĀ to keep up with the latest motorsport newsĀ andĀ updates.

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Formula 2

Formula 2 Round 7: Austria Chaos Roundup

Published

3 weeks ago

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July 4, 2025

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Formula 2 Round 7: Austria Chaos Roundup
Image Credit - Formula 2

In the Styrian hills, the Red Bull Ring delivered a stunning weekend of racing as Formula 2 entered Round 7 of the 2025 season. The circuit is known for its high-speed nature and overtaking hotspots, and it played host to one of the most dramatic and eventful rounds yet. The stakes were high with the championship fight tightening, and by the end of the weekend, the landscape of the standings had shifted in a significant way.

Fornaroli Stuns Late in Qualifying

Qualifying saw Leonardo Fornaroli steal the spotlight. The Invicta Racing driver clinched his second pole of the season with a last-lap masterclass, delivering a 1:15.229 that edged ARTā€™s Victor Martins by a mere 0.014s. The top three were separated by just 0.024s, with MP Motorsportā€™s Richard Verschoor in third.

It was a closely contested session from the start, with the top 10 separated by just three-tenths of a second. Premaā€™s Gabriele Mini set the early benchmark but was quickly beaten by Fornaroli. Martins came agonizingly close with a purple middle sector but was pipped at the very end by 0.014s. Verschoor, too, looked threatening but ran wide on his final attempt. Behind the top three, Mini slotted into fourth, ahead of Rodinā€™s Amaury Cordeel and Invictaā€™s Roman Stanek. Championship leader Alexander Dunne salvaged seventh late on after languishing in 18th for much of the session.

With the top 10 reversed for the Sprint, it was Van Amersfoort Racingā€™s John Bennett who inherited the reverse-grid pole for Saturdayā€™s dash.

Sprint Race: Marti Returns to the Top Step

The Sprint Race was a statement drive from Josep Maria Marti, who claimed his second win of the season in style for Campos Racing. Starting fifth, the Spaniard launched aggressively and showcased tactical brilliance to dispatch rivals one by one, ultimately wrestling the lead from AIX Racingā€™s Joshua Duerksen.

Duerksen had made a clean getaway to lead from the pole, followed by Stanek and Marti. The race was quickly red-flagged following a dramatic multi-car incident at Turn 3, involving Luke Browning, Arvid Lindblad, and Sami Meguetounif. Thankfully, all emerged unscathed.

After the rolling restart, Duerksen led away confidently again, but Marti was relentless. With DRS enabled, the Campos driver pounced, attacking at Turn 3 and taking the lead on Lap 17. Duerksen briefly fought back, reclaiming P1 at Turn 6, but Marti wasnā€™t to be denied. The Spaniard launched another attack into Turn 3 on the next lap and, this time, made the move stick.

Behind the leading trio, chaos and position changes defined the midfield. Richard Verschoor muscled past Bennett to climb into the top five, while Mini executed a brave outside move at Turn 7 to secure sixth. Alexander Dunne endured a difficult race marred by a five-second time penalty for jumping the start. He slipped to 11th at one stage but recovered to sixth.

The final lap brought the drama as Cordell spun and was collected by Mini, Fornaroli, and Bennett, causing a late reshuffle. Marti crossed the line nearly three seconds clear of Duerksen, with Stanek holding onto third after fending off multiple challenges. Verschoor was classified fourth, followed by Sebastian Montoya, Dunne, Martins, and Ritomo Miyata, who rounded out the points.

Marti was thrilled post-race: ā€œOne step better than last year so very, very happy about it. Even with the three-place grid drop, we managed to get the win.ā€

Feature Race: Verschoor Strikes Gold Again

Sundayā€™s Feature Race belonged to Richard Verschoor, who executed a strategic masterclass to claim his third win of the season and, with it, the lead of the Driversā€™ Championship. Starting third, the Dutchman played the long game, timing his pit stop perfectly and pulling off key overtakes to take control. Polesitter Fornaroli led the early stages, defending hard against a fast-starting Verschoor into Turn 3. While the Invicta driver held firm, he soon found himself under pressure as Verschoor and others began the undercut strategy. Martin pitted first, on Lap 7, followed closely by Verschoor. When Fornaroli responded on Lap 9, he rejoined behind both.

Meanwhile, Marti, starting from 12th, had charged up to fifth on the opening lap and was back in the thick of it, battling Dunne once again. Their duel intensified post-pit stop, with both overtaking Fornaroli in quick succession before Dunne muscled his way past Marti at Turn 4. While battles raged behind him, Verschoor caught and passed Martins with a sublime outside move at Turn 4 on Lap 15 to take the net lead. From there, he managed his pace expertly, pulling clear of his nearest challengers and retaking the on-track lead once pit stops cycled through.

The closing stages saw a fierce battle for third place. Fornaroli, having regained composure, reeled in Martins and dived down the inside at Turn 3. Martins responded with a late braking move around the outside to reclaim the place. Their fight allowed Marti to catch up and pounce, only for a three-car scuffle to unfold. At Turn 4, Fornaroli ultimately got through on both Martins and Marti, who made slight contact, resulting in a 10-second time penalty for the Campos driver. This skirmish demoted both down the order, with Fornaroli holding onto the final podium spot.

Further back, Luke Browning and Jak Crawford produced stellar drives. Browning surged from 17th on the grid to P6 on the road, passing multiple rivals with clinical efficiency. Crawford, too, has impressed with late moves on Martins and Browning to snatch fourth. Montoyaā€™s alternative strategy paid dividends as he stormed through the field late on to finish fifth, while Martins ended up eighth after a final-lap off-track moment at Turn 1. Dino Beganovic and Stanek rounded out the top ten.

Verschoor was jubilant after the race: ā€œSuper happy to have the biggest trophy today. Amazing race, good start, good pace and a good strategy, so a massive thank you to MP Motorsport and Iā€™m looking forward to Silverstone.ā€

Formula 2

Post-Race Drama: Dunne Disqualified, Bennett Penalised

Just when things seemed to have settled, the Stewards surprised us with the announcement that Alexander Dunne, who had initially finished second, was disqualified due to excessive front plank wear on his Rodin Motorsport car. The disqualification came after post-race checks revealed the plank thickness was below the legal limit, in violation of FIA Technical Regulations.

As a result, every driver behind Dunne was promoted one place, gifting Crawford third and Montoya fourth. Marti fell to sixth after serving his penalty, and John Bennett received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision, dropping him to 14th.

The Standings Shake-Up

Verschoorā€™s victory and Dunneā€™s misfortune saw the Dutchman leap to the top of the Driversā€™ Championship with 114 points. Dunne slips to second on 90, while Crawford moves up to third on 88. Fornaroli and Browning are close behind with 86 and 83 points respectively.

In the Teams’ Championship, Campos Racing retained their lead with 146 points. MP Motorsport move into second with 126, leapfrogging Hitech TGR. DAMS Lucas Oil and Invicta are tied in points with 109 each, remaining in fourth and fifth.

FP1 Opportunities: Dunne and Beganovic Impress

Outside the Formula 2 action, two familiar names made waves in Formula 1. Alexander Dunne stepped into McLaren machinery for the FP1 session at Spielberg, replacing Lando Norris and finishing an impressive fourth. Ferrari also handed a debut to Dino Beganovic, who took over Charles Leclercā€™s seat for the session, gathering vital experience.

Looking Ahead: Silverstone Awaits

With a reshuffled leaderboard and momentum swinging toward MP Motorsport and Verschoor, all eyes turn to Silverstone for Round 8. The British track promises another thrilling chapter in this fiercely contested championship.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™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.

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Formula 2

Formula 2 Barcelona: Lindblad Shows His Worth, Blazing Verschoor & Unlucky Maini

Arvid Lindblad converts Pole to a win while Verschoor’s pit stop gamble works to perfection in Formula 2 Round 6 at Barcelona.

Published

1 month ago

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June 13, 2025

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Arvid Lindblad celebrates after taking the feature race win in Round 6 of Formula 2 in Barcelona.

Formula 2 made a stop at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the final leg of the triple header. The weekend saw Richard Verschoor take his second win of the season after gambling to change tyres during a late safety car in the sprint race. The gamble saw him go from the back of the grid to leading the race in just a few laps. On Sunday, it was Arvid Lindblad’s time to shine as he converted pole to a win to get his maiden Feature Race win in Formula 2.

Verschoor Storms The Sprint Race

Verschoor qualified P6 on Friday, placing him P5 for the sprint. He was P9 on Lap 7. However, a few good overtakes and a lucky late-race Safety Car prompted him to bolt on the Soft compound tires.

Compared to the top 5 ahead who decided to stay out on new tires, Verschoor was able to make an easy pass on the bunch of them, going from P10 to P1 in just four laps. Even though he was challenged by Alex Dunne till the finish line, he kept his cool and brought it over the finish line to take his second win of the season.

Other Notable Performances From The Sprint

Rookie Alex Dunne qualified P5, but was demoted to P19 after a series of penalties were served. However, the Irishman made the most of the opportunities that presented themselves in the Sprint, including a well-timed Safety Car. He followed the same strategy as Verschoor and charged through the grid for a blazing P2 finish.


Rafael VillagĆ³mez started the Sprint dead last, in P22. However, following the trend of the drivers who were on Softs, he too was able to make up good time, putting him P3 for his maiden podium in F2.


The names of Jak Crawford, Sebastian Montoya, Victor Martins, Luke Browning, and finally polesitter for the Sprint, Leo Fornaroli, rounded out the point scorers.


Kush Maini had lined up P8 for the Sprint, and after a phenomenal start to the race, he was sitting in the top 5 comfortably. Unfortunately, the unlucky timing of the Safety Car saw him tumble down the grid, ultimately crossing the line in P16 for the Sprint race.

Lindblad Makes It Two

Arvid Lindblad set the fastest lap time in Friday’s qualifying session. He also got his maiden pole for F2, which put him at the front of the grid for Sunday’s Feature Race. The young Redbull junior kept his nose clean and maintained his cool at the front, landing him his second F2 win. This also gave Campos racing their first ever win on home soil.

Notably, after the weekend, Red Bull requested the FIA to grant Arvid Lindblad a superlicense, which would allow him to participate in Formula 1 sessions. This gives Arvid the oppurtunity to appear in his first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix; now that Max Verstappen has 11 penalty points on his superlicense, and 1 more may result in a race ban.

Other Notable Performances From The Feature Race

Sebastian Montoya scored his second Feature Race podium on the trot, after the Colombian started from P2 following a solid qualifying performance on Friday. He attempted to challenge Arvid for his position, but a late-race Safety Car neutralised the race, dismissing his attempts.

After winning the Sprint race on Saturday, Richard Verschoor rounded out the podium on Sunday, marking the most points scored throughout the weekend. He started the race in P5, and gained two vital positions in the race, leading him to finish P3.



Jak Crawford and rookie Alex Dunne rounded out the top 5 on Sunday, scoring some valuable points for themselves and their team.

Although Kush Maini started in the top 3, he failed to hold positions after a disastrous start dropped him outside of the top 10. A strong recovery ā€” gaining position after positionā€” got him back into the points, eventually finishing P7. Luck was not on Maini’s side this weekend.



Weekend Results



Standings



Next Round In Austria

Formula 2 has a long break before their next outing in Austria, which runs from 27th through 29th June.
Alex Dunne now has only a 3-point lead in the WDC, with Richard Verschoor trailing close behind. Arvid Lindbald closes the gap to the top and lines up P3 in the standings, 8 points behind Dunne.

As for the WCC, Campos racing now hold a commanding 26-point lead over Hitech TGR, who are closely followed by MP Motorsport, DAMS Lucas Oil and Rodin Motorsport who are in a tight fight for P2.

Desi Racing Co.Ā is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us onĀ Twitter/X,Ā Instagram, andĀ LinkedInĀ to keep up with the latest motorsport newsĀ andĀ updates.

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Formula 2

Formula 2: Final Stop of The Triple Header in Barcelona

After 2 back to back racing weekends in Imola and Monaco, Formula 2 now heads to Barcelona for the final stop of the triple header.

Published

2 months ago

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May 30, 2025

By

Start of Formula 2 Feature Race in Barcelona 2024

The Formula 2 paddock makes its final stop of the triple header at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for another weekend of intense racing action. The last 2 weekends at Imola and Monaco have given us unpredictable races, let’s see what Barcelona has to offer this weekend.

Championship Battle Tight as Ever

The championship battle is tight as ever in Formula 2, the top 3 are separated by only 6 points. Luke Browning leads the championship after a good haul of points in Monaco saw him replace Alex Dunne at the top. The Williams Academy driver is yet to win a race, but he has been consistently stacking up points to emerge as a championship contender.

Alex Dunne was leading the championship coming into Monaco and even got the pole position for the Feature Race. A win in the feature race would have meant that he would have extended the lead in the championship. But, an impatient move into Turn 1 to keep his lead resulted in him going into the side of Victor Martins, eventually leading to a pile-up which saw a total of 7 cars retire. He is still second in the championship, 3 points behind Browning.

Kush Riding On a Wave of Confidence

After making history in Monaco, becoming the first indian to win on the streets of the principality, Kush Maini is full of confidence heading into Barcelona, a circuit where he had good success last time around. Last year, Kush got a Sprint race podium and a solid P6 in the feature race at Barcelona. Full of confidence and heading to a circuit he likes, Kush will be looking to get some solid results before the short break.

Weā€™ve had a very rocky start, with a lot of things going wrong. Some things were in our control, some things not, but our season starts today and thereā€™s still a long way to go for us, so this is a positive note to take forwards. – Kush Maini after his win in Monaco.

Hitech TGR vs Campos

The top 2 teams in the standings are separated by just 7 points. Both Hitech and Campos this year have been very consistent in their performances. Hitech, courtesy of Luke Browning, who has been on the podium every single race weekend this season, leads Campos narrowly. But these teams have been in Formula 2 long enough to understand the season is still very long and it all can change in just a couple of weekends.

Formula 2: Final Stop of The Triple Header in Barcelona
Luke Browning leads the championship, having been on the podium every weekend this season. Photo: Formula Motorsports Limited.

Where to watch Formula 2 in India

You can watch all the sessions of Formula 2 live in India on Fancode and F1TV. The schedule for the weekend in IST is given below:

Formula 2: Final Stop of The Triple Header in Barcelona

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™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.

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