The update on F2 drivers’ transfers for 2024

ART: O’Sullivan arrives, Pourchaire is leaving

Théo Pourchaire will not be doing a fourth season in F2. The regulations of this championship prohibit the reigning champion from staying in this category the following year. Even if the Frenchman, currently leading the championship, is not crowned, he will leave F2 to fully dedicate himself to his role as the third driver for Sauber in 2024, with hopes of securing a titular position in the Swiss team in 2025.

Victor Martins, the other tricolor of ART, will continue with his team for a second season in F2. The current fifth-place holder in F2 and champion of F3 2022 is still a member of the junior program of the Alpine F1 Team and will be one of the contenders for the title next year.

To replace Théo Pourchaire, the vice-champion of F3 this year and a member of the Williams academy, Zak O’Sullivan will join ART as a rookie for the upcoming season.

Prema: Kimi Antonelli, the crack, arrives

The young Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 17 years old, is going to make the big leap from FRECA to F2 in 2024. Since 2022, the driver supported by Mercedes has won all the championships he has competed in, including the German and Italian F4, the F3 Asian Championship, and FRECA, even though he was a rookie every time. While the Italian may not be fighting for the title in his first F2 season, his seat at Prema should allow him to showcase all his talent.

Oliver Bearman is supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy and has driven the Haas twice this season, in free practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. These reasons are strong arguments for the 18-year-old British driver, who is expected to complete a second season in F2 with the Italian team.

Frederik Vesti’s future is uncertain. The current second-place driver in F2, 25 points behind Pourchaire and supported by Mercedes, is not guaranteed to continue in this category for a third consecutive season.

A shake-up at DAMS?

22-year-old Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa, who finished third in F2 this season, will leave the team to join Super Formula in Japan in 2024. The driver, supported by Red Bull’s junior program, will take the place of Liam Lawson, another driver from the Red Bull fold, in this championship. Arthur Leclerc, younger brother of Charles, is also expected to leave DAMS and F2 to join GT3 with Ferrari, a team he is a part of in their academy.

The team led by Charles Pic is expected to field American driver Jak Crawford. The 18-year-old driver, who claimed a victory with Hitech in his debut F2 season, has announced that he will continue in this category next year. He will no longer be supported by Red Bull’s junior program.

The name of Juan Manuel Correa is also expected to join DAMS next season. The 24-year-old driver made his return to F2 with the Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) team for the first time since 2019 and the fatal accident of Anthoine Hubert, where the driver, who races under an American license, was seriously injured.

Rodin Carlin: are we doing the same thing again?

The team recently extended Enzo Fittipaldi for a second year of collaboration in F2. The Brazilian driver, grandson of double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, will compete in his fourth season in the F1 feeder series. Zane Maloney’s four podium finishes and his tenth place in the championship are arguments that could allow the 20-year-old driver to keep his seat in the British team in 2024.

MP Motorsport: Hauger stays and rookie Colapinto joins

The Dutch team has already confirmed Dennis Hauger for a second season in F2 and also the arrival of Argentine Franco Colapinto, who finished fourth in F3 this year.

Hauger will no longer be supported by Red Bull in 2024, and Colapinto will debut in F2 in Abu Dhabi this weekend, replacing Jehan Daruvala. The Indian driver will join Formula E in 2024, after three seasons in the F1 feeder series.

Virtuosi Racing: Doohan and Cordeel will no longer be there

Australian Jack Doohan will not stay in F2 for a fourth consecutive year. The 20-year-old driver is expected to bounce back in the endurance championship, even though he was not selected for Alpine’s hypercar program. Amaury Cordeel has also announced that he will leave Virtuosi Racing, but he should remain in F2 next year.

The 19-year-old Brazilian and this year’s FIA F3 champion as a rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto is in pole position to join F2 with Virtuosi Racing. For Kush Maini, the support from the Alpine academy and his mentor Mika Häkkinen, a two-time F1 world champion, should enable him to join the British team for a second season in F2, although this has not yet been confirmed.

UPDATE: Both drivers have been confirmed by Virtuosi Racing on Monday, November 27th.

PHM Racing: Joshua Duerksen’s Gamble

The team recently announced the arrival of Joshua Duerksen for 2024. The 20-year-old driver will be the first Paraguayan in F2 history and is also making the big leap from FRECA to F2, just like Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The difference is that Joshua Duerksen finished 14th and 19th in two seasons with Arden Motorsport in FRECA.

Swiss driver Ralph Boschung is rumored to be the favorite to be Duerksen’s teammate. However, at 26 years old and with six seasons in F2 under his belt, the last four with Carlin, it could work against Boschung, who has only achieved a 10th place as his best result in this championship.