Doha: Formula 2, the premier feeder series for Formula 1, is poised to once again showcase the upcoming generation of racing talents at the Lusail International Circuit (LIC) this year. Frequently regarded as the ultimate testing ground for emerging drivers, Formula 2 provides high-octane, wheel-to-wheel competition where skill and race strategy are prominently exhibited – often influencing the trajectories of future Formula 1 champions.
In the previous season, LIC was the venue for one of the concluding rounds of the 2024 F2 calendar, where spectators experienced a thrilling contest featuring Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Zane Maloney, and Paul Aron as they vied for the championship title.
Bortoleto ultimately secured the championship, finishing ahead of Paul Aron in second place and Isack Hadjar in third. Both Bortoleto and Hadjar have since advanced to the highest level of motorsport, joining the 2025 Formula 1 grid – underscoring how F2 acts as the crucial final step to F1, where every overtake, pit stop, and podium finish can significantly influence a racing career.
As the 2025 season gains traction, LIC once again assumes its role as the penultimate round on the calendar, promising another weekend filled with exhilarating racing. The 5.38 km circuit, characterized by its flowing corners and 1.068 km straight, presents a genuine challenge to driver proficiency – one that tests the limits of the grid in both sprint and feature races.This year’s F2 championship is proving as competitive as ever, with several standout talents emerging at the top of the standings:
Leonardo Fornaroli (188 points) – The Italian continues to lead the standings and remains the benchmark thanks to his consistency across both Sprint and Feature races. Fornaroli’s 2025 wins include Silverstone Sprint, Spa Sprint, Budapest Feature, and Monza Sprint. In Baku, he crossed the line third but dropped to fifth after a 10-second time penalty, losing ground in the championship fight.
Jak Crawford (169 points) – The American strengthened his championship bid with a commanding Feature Race win in Baku—his fourth victory of the year—after converting pole position and fending off Joshua Duerksen in a tense finish. Crawford’s season tally also includes triumphs in the Imola Sprint, Monaco Feature, and Silverstone Feature. As Aston Martin’s development driver, he’s now Fornaroli’s closest challenger.
Richard Verschoor (151 points) – The Dutchman has enjoyed a strong campaign, highlighted by three wins (Jeddah Feature, Barcelona Sprint, Spielberg Feature). In Baku, he added more points with a solid eighth-place finish, keeping him in touch with the top group.
Alex Dunne (130 points) – The Irish rookie continues to shine. With Feature Race wins in Sakhir and Imola plus multiple podiums, Dunne underlines his aggressive but controlled style, cementing his place as one of the season’s breakout stars.
Further down the order, Josep Martí (112 points) and Arvid Lindblad (109 points) continue to impress—Martí with his early-season Sprint win and Lindblad with standout performances like his charge from P14 to sixth in Baku. Dino Beganovic (96 points) also made waves in Azerbaijan, adding a Sprint Race victory and a Feature Race podium to his résumé, while Roman Staněk (81 points) remains a consistent points-scorer.
Looking ahead to 2026, F2 drivers are already being linked to full-time F1 seats. Jak Crawford is confirmed to be in active talks with Cadillac’s F1 team for 2026, positioning him as one of the foremost candidates should an opportunity arise.
Meanwhile, Red Bull is preparing Arvid Lindblad for a likely promotion to their Racing Bulls outfit, having granted him an early superlicence and placed him behind the wheel in F1 practice sessions.
These developments underscore F2’s role as the proving ground for motorsport’s next generation.
With the new Dallara F2 chassis introduced in 2024 – lighter, more powerful, and designed to mimic modern F1 handling characteristics – drivers are developing skills directly transferable to the F1 grid.
As the championship battle tightens, LIC will once again provide a decisive stage. The Qatar round being the second last of the season, running as part of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 weekend, offers fans the unique opportunity to witness both F1 and F2 in action – seeing today’s heroes and tomorrow’s stars compete on the same track.
Tickets for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 are available now at https://tickets.lcsc.qa.
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