It’s that time of the year again when I make my Predictions for the upcoming Motorsport Season. In this article, I will be Predicting the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Season which I’m actually slightly confident with considering this was my best Predictions article last year! However, it’s also worth mentioning that F2 will be running a different car this year so that could shake up the order somewhat.
P22: Joshua Durksen
Joshua Durksen is about to enter his first year in FIA Formula 2. The 20-year-old Paraguayan-German racing driver is driving for PHM AIX Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was second in the 2019 Formula 4 UAE Championship. Unfortunately for Joshua, his lack of results in Formula Regional over the past couple of years plus the fact he’s driving for a team that didn’t score a single point last year is the reason why I have Durksen to end up last in the Standings.
P21: Rafael Villagomez
I have to assume that Rafael Villagomez brings a lot of financial backing. The 22-year-old Mexican racing driver is driving for Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was P6 in the 2020 French F4 Championship. Villagomez has spent the last three years driving for VAR in Formula 3, and his highest Championship finish in that series was only 25th (2022 and 2023) so the fact that he’s got a seat in F2 this year is honestly quite frustrating and stupid!
P20: Amaury Cordeel
For the second-straight year, I have Amaury Cordeel finishing 20th in the F2 Standings (that actually did happen last year). The 21-year-old Belgian racing driver is driving for Hitech Pulse-Eight in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2018 F4 Spanish Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Amaury has driven in two full seasons and his highest Championship finish was P17 (2022). The fact that Cordeel finished 20th in the Standings last year in a much better team is quite concerning.
P19: Roman Stanek
Roman Stanek is back for his third straight year with Trident. The 19-year-old Czech racing driver is driving for Trident in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was P4 in the 2019 ADAC Formula 4 Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Roman has driven one full season and he ended that season (2023) 18th in the Championship. I honestly can’t see Stanek doing much more than this in 2024.
P18: Juan Manuel Correa
Juan Manuel Correa is back for another year in Formula 2, this year with DAMS Lucas Oil. The 24-year-old American-Ecuadorian racing driver is driving for DAMS Lucas Oil in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he finished 4th in the 2018 Toyota Racing Series. When it comes to Formula 2, Correa has driven in two seasons and his highest Championship finish was 13th in 2019. It’s amazing to see Juan Manuel Correa back driving in a competitive Championship, but I’m honestly not sure he’s quite good enough to finish much higher than this (unfortunately).
P17: Taylor Barnard
After a strong Junior Formula Career up to this point, Taylor Barnard gets his chance in FIA Formula 2. The 19-year-old British racing driver is driving for PHM AIX Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was second in the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 Championship and the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship (he was beaten to the Title by Andrea Kimi Antonelli both times). Barnard is also currently second in the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship. I really like Taylor Barnard, I thought he did an incredibly good job in Formula 3 last year. Unfortunately, the fact that Taylor’s with a team that didn’t score a single point last year is why I can’t put him any higher than P17, but I still expect Barnard to have a good year.
P16: Isack Hadjar
This feels like an important year in the career of Isack Hadjar. The 19-year-old French-Algerian racing driver is driving for Campos Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was third in both the 2020 French F4 Championship and the 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Hadjar finished 14th in the Standings in his first season last year. The fact that Isack is still a part of the Red Bull Junior Team tells me that he drove better last year than it looks on paper. However, I actually think he’s going to go slightly backwards this year on the basis that he’s moved to an ever-so-slightly weaker team.
P15: Pepe Marti
After a surprisingly brilliant 2023 F3 campaign, Pepe Marti steps up to Formula 2. The 18-year-old Spanish racing driver is driving for Campos Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was second in the 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship. Marti is currently a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. I think Pepe Marti is an exciting young talent and that’s why I have him to finish above his teammate in the Standings. However, I think he’ll struggle to finish much higher than this due to the team that’s around him.
P14: Paul Aron
Paul Aron enters Formula 2 with a chip on his shoulder. The 19-year-old Estonian racing driver is driving for Hitech Pulse-Eight in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was third in the 2019 Italian F4 Championship, the 2021 and 2022 Formula Regional European Championships as well as last year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship. Paul Aron’s junior career up to this point has been really good so I’m a little bit confused as to why Mercedes decided to drop him from their Junior Team last October. However, that might fire Aron up even more to have a pretty decent season (even though he will be slightly restricted by his surroundings).
P13: Richard Verschoor
Richard Verschoor is back for his 4th season in FIA Formula 2. The 23-year-old Dutch racing driver is driving for Trident in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came in 2016 when he won both the SMP F4 and F4 Spanish Championships. When it comes to Formula 2, Verschoor has driven in 3 full seasons and his highest Championship finish was 9th last year (he’s also won at least 1 race per year). I think Richard Verschoor is a pretty good racing driver who will do pretty well again this year, even if he is in one of the worst cars on the grid.
P12: Jak Crawford
Jak Crawford is back for a second year in FIA Formula 2. The 18-year-old American racing driver is driving for DAMS Lucas Oil in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was second in both the 2018/19 NACAM Formula 4 Championship and the 2020 ADAC Formula 4 Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Jak managed to finish 13th in the Championship in his Rookie season last year. It’s worth mentioning that Jak Crawford isn’t a part of the Red Bull Junior Team anymore which could prove to either be a blessing or a curse. For me, I think Crawford will do slightly better this time around.
P11: Enzo Fittipaldi
Enzo Fittipaldi is back for another crack at Formula 2. The 22-year-old Brazilian-American racing driver is driving for Van Amersfoort Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2018 Italian F4 Championship. Enzo is currently a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. When it comes to Formula 2, Fittipaldi has driven in two and a half seasons and his highest Championship finish was 7th last year. There is no doubt that Enzo Fittipaldi is a decently talented racing driver, however, he’s not with as good of a team as he was last year which is why I’ve got him to drop a few places in the overall standings.
P10: Franco Colapinto
After a strong Formula 3 campaign, Franco Colapinto steps up to Formula 2 looking for some strong results. The 20-year-old Argentine-Italian racing driver is driving for MP Motorsport in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2019 F4 Spanish Championship. Franco is currently a member of the Williams Driver Academy. I find Franco Colapinto to be an exciting young talent with a potentially really bright future ahead. I also think Colapinto will definitely push his teammate all the way.
P9: Dennis Hauger
Unlike the previous two seasons, I haven’t predicted Dennis Hauger to win the Formula 2 Championship. The 20-year-old Norwegian racing driver is driving for MP Motorsport in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2019 Italian F4 Championship as well as the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Hauger has driven in two full seasons and his Championship finish was 8th (last year). I originally had Dennis Hauger to finish higher than this, but I then remembered that this is a new F2 car this year and Dennis has (unfortunately) proven over the years that he’s not the most adaptable driver. Hauger’s also no longer with Red Bull either.
P8: Gabriel Bortoleto
The reigning FIA Formula 3 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto has arrived in Formula 2! The 19-year-old Brazilian racing driver is driving for Invicta Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the F3 Title last year! Since then, Bortoleto has signed with the McLaren Driver Development Programme. I was very impressed with Gabriel Bortoleto last year as he honestly ran away with the Formula 3 Championship. I’m also really looking forward to seeing his battle with his teammate, and whilst I may have him to finish below his Invicta Racing partner, I do think it’s going to be pretty close.
P7: Kush Maini
Kush Maini enters 2024 feeling pretty confident about his upcoming campaign. The 23-year-old Indian racing driver is driving for Invicta Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish was second in the 2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship. When it comes to Formula 2, Maini finished 11th in the Standings in his Rookie season last year. Kush Maini had a very good year last year and when you consider that he’s now a part of the Alpine Academy, has Mika Hakkinen as a mentor, and is at a much stronger F2 team, Maini should finish higher in the Standings in 2024.
P6: Zane Maloney
Zane Maloney will be looking for a stronger second season in Formula 2. The 20-year-old Barbadian racing driver is driving for Rodin Motorsport in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2019 F4 British Championship. After leaving Red Bull, Maloney is now a part of the Sauber Academy. When it comes to Formula 2, Maloney finished 10th in his Rookie season last year. I like Zane Maloney, I think he will do better this year than in 2023, but I don’t think he’s quite as good or as exciting as the guys I have to finish above him!
P5: Zak O’Sullivan
After Predicting Zak O’Sullivan to win last year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship, I’m back to backing the young Williams Academy Driver! The 18-year-old British racing driver is driving for ART Grand Prix in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2021 GB3 Championship (by a massive 154 points). I’ve been really impressed with Zak O’Sullivan’s junior career up to this point and his second-place finish in last year’s Formula 3 Championship only impressed me further. Whilst it may be unlikely, a special year for Zak and he could find himself in a Williams seat in 2025. Also, I want to point out the fact that both Theo Pourchaire and Victor Martins finished 5th in their Rookie F2 Seasons (also driving for ART).
P4: Andrea Kimi Antonelli
The face of last year’s “Up and Coming Drivers Article” Andrea Kimi Antonelli is looking to prove why he deserves a shot at replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. The 17-year-old Italian racing driver is driving for Prema Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2022 Italian F4 and ADAC Formula 4 Championships as well as last year’s Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European Championships! In fact, Kimi Antonelli has won every Championship that he’s been in full time and that’s kind of the reason why he’s a part of the Mercedes Junior Team! The fact that Andrea Kimi Antonelli has bypassed Formula 3 and gone to Formula 2 is both a bold and exciting move. Personally, I think Kimi will relish the challenge and will have a great season. However, I don’t quite think he’s going to win it, but 4th in his first season should be seen as a great success for Kimi Antonelli.
P3: Ritomo Miyata
For me, the 2024 F2 Rookie of the Year will be none other than Ritomo Miyata. The 24-year-old Japanese racing driver is driving for Rodin Motorsport in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won both the 2016 and 2017 F4 Japanese Championships, the 2020 Super Formula Lights Title, as well as the 2023 Super GT and Super Formula Championships! Let’s be totally honest, this man completed Japan! Ritomo Miyata looks like a hell of a talent and the fact that he’s autistic has made me even more excited to see how he gets on this year. Whilst I do think getting used to Europe and driving in the European Le Mans Series may hurt him slightly, the fact that the F2 car this year is supposed to be “more like” a Formula 1 car (than the previous car) should suit Miyata very well due to being in Super Formula for 3 years.
P2: Oliver Bearman
As great as he is, I think Ollie Bearman will just miss out on winning the Formula 2 Championship. The 18-year-old British racing driver is driving for Prema Racing in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won both the 2021 ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 Championships. Ollie is also currently a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. When it comes to Formula 2, Bearman managed to finish 6th in the Championship in his Rookie Season last year. I think Ollie Bearman is a great young talent that will probably end up at Ferrari in a few years time. I actually feel pretty confident about Bearman being on the F1 Grid next year, and that “distraction” is actually why I think he’ll just miss out on the F2 Crown!
P1: Victor Martins
For me, Victor Martins is the man who will end the year as the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Champion. The 22-year-old French racing driver is driving for ART Grand Prix in 2024 and his highest-ever Championship finish came when he won the 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup Title and the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship. Victor is currently a member of the Alpine Academy. When it comes to Formula 2, Martins was able to finish 5th in his Rookie campaign last year (the best of any Rookie in 2023). For some reason, Victor Martins has a weird record of finishing 5th in the Standings in his first season in the series before he wins it the following year (besides when he was beaten to the FREC Title by Oscar Piastri before he won it the next year) and I think that may happen again. ART Grand Prix won the Championship with a French driver last season, and I think Martins has all the tools to make that happen again!
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