Despite a somewhat challenging F1 debut, crashing out in his first P1 appearance, Mercedes has decided to sign 18 year old Andrea Kimi Antonelli to a 2025 contract.
Antonelli is now the 4th young driver to get the call up for the 2025 season. So where are they coming from? The answer is Formula 2, the feeder series for F1.
For many a Grand Prix fan, Formula 2 is unknown, but plays a vital roll in the nurturing of potential F1 talent. About 90% of the current F1 grid are graduates of F2, with names like Leclerc, Russell and Piastri all former F2 champions.
Why is F2 so obscure? Actually, it is not. F2 fan zones are packed with an interesting younger, extremely knowledgeable demographic, giving the events an almost festival-like atmosphere. Far less insulated than their F1 counterparts, F2 paddocks offer unprecedented access to both teams and drivers, which is helping increase the hype around the Series.
As in most sports, ‘academies' play a vital part in bringing forward new talent. Formula 2 is no different. Most F2 drivers are associated with an existing Formula One team. This F2 partnership, apart from financial help, affords the opportunity to participate in some Grand Prix FP1 and post-season testing sessions. The academy concept is not only for the drivers; F2 team personnel are honing their craft in an effort to graduate to potential positions with F1 teams. The latest F1 leadership appointment from F2 is Hitech’s Oliver Oakes, who replaced Bruno Famin as Team Principal of the Alpine F1 team.
Who has already signed for 2025 and who is making guest appearances this season on the F1 grid?
Lewis Hamilton signing for Ferrari in 2025 got the ball rolling, with Mercedes needing to fill his seat. After season-long speculation, Mercedes academy driver Kimi Antonelli received the nod for 2025.
Next Carlos Sainz had to miss the Saudi Arabian GP due to appendicitis. Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman stepped up at the last minute to replace the ailing Sainz and finished in the points. For the 2025 F1 season, British rookie Bearman will be joining Esteban Ocon at Haas F1 and will be stepping in to replace suspended driver Kevin Magnussen at the Azerbaijan GP.
The departure of Ocon from Alpine opens the door for 2023 F2 front-runner Jack Doohan (son of Moto GP Champion Mick Doohan) to join the French mark next season.
Long time Red Bull Academy driver Liam Lawson has finally been given the green light from Helmut Marko for a seat in F1 with VCARB (Scuderia AlphaTauri). Kiwi Lawson has been waiting for a full time F1 drive for some time despite very strong outings when he replaced an injured Daniel Ricciardo last season.
At the other end of the spectrum is American Driver Logan Sargeant, who was just dropped by Williams Racing after a season and a half in F1. Sargeant’s replacement for the remainder of the season is Williams Academy driver Argentinian Franco Colapinto, snapped up during his first F2 season.
F2 has also done a great job promoting the Series with race highlights and an excellent documentary series “Chasing the Dream” (that rivals “Drive to Survive”), available on YouTube as well as F1TV.
Now when you see names like Maloney, Aron, Hadjar and Dürksen, to name but a few, you will be well up to speed on these talented F1 hopefuls from the lair of F2.
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