Formula 2 is supposed to be the final step before F1, but if you take a look at the recent history of F2 Champions, something odd is happening. Some of them don’t make it to F1, but even the ones who do often disappear as quickly as they arrive.
So, what is going on?
The Harsh Truth
In motorsport, talent alone is not a guarantee to making you succeed within it. You need money, and lots of it. F2 is no different, and sometimes winning isn’t enough.
The budget required to jump to F1 is enormous – drivers need millions of pounds in sponsorships as well as backing just to be considered. This is often why paid drivers or drivers with academy connections tend to jump ahead.
It is a brutal reality, but a championship trophy doesn’t guarantee you a seat on the grid.
Where are the Champs Now?
Most recently, Gabriel Bortoleto took the F2 champion title, and he actually got a seat with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. However, previous years were not so lucky.
- Nyck de Vries (2019) – After his F2 journey he got an F1 debut in 2022 with AlphaTauri. The confusing part is that he was dropped mid-season in 2023.
- Oscar Piastri (2021) – Although he is currently in Formula 1 racing for McLaren, this wasn’t always the case. It took a whole year after his victory in F2 to make it to F1.
- Felipe Drugovich (2022) – Despite winning F2 comfortably, he’s still only a reserve driver for the Aston Martin F1 team.
- Theo Pourchaire (2023) – He dominated F2 but ultimately went to Super Formula in Japan as there was simply no space in Formula 1.
Others decided to go to different motorsport types so that they could stay in racing.
Where Can Drivers Go Instead?
Many are finding success as well as a place outside of Formula 1. From IndyCar to the WEC – some love the thrill of racing so much that they have to find alternatives to F1.
Ilot is currently thriving in IndyCar, and maybe some other drivers like Vesti, Martins, and Hauger may follow his example.
F1 isn’t the only ‘good’ option anymore, and F2 doesn’t produce bad drivers. It is about a flawed system and an extremely narrow top level that can’t absorb all the rising talent.
Is the System Broken?
The F2 to F1 pathway is more clogged than ever. There are a miniscule 20 seats available and with drivers staying in F1, even perfect rookies aren’t getting a chance.
Although driver academies help, they can create narrow pathways. For example, Red Bull has had 4-5 ready drivers for just 2 seats for years now.
Takeaways
F2 may build champions, but that doesn’t mean that F1 will welcome them. Fans should pay attention to where they actually go, not just whether they land an F1 contract.
Overall, it is a flawed system that can be hit or miss for many drivers.
So, what do you think? Is this fair, and who is your favourite F2 driver/winner?