Five good reasons to watch F2 in Abu Dhabi
Formula 2 is (finally) back in a week's time on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. The drivers' championship is already decided, but there are still at least five good reasons to follow this meeting.
Fourteenth and final meeting of the year in Abu Dhabi. The championship driver was awarded to Felipe Drugovich in the last round. Do you think this meeting is not interesting?
Don’t be mistaken, here are five good reasons to follow this weekend:
The team championship
Although we know the 2022 champion, Felipe Drugovich, we still do not know who will win the team championship. This is because MP Motorsport and ART GP will arrive in Abu Dhabi with the same number of points (281 each). The fight will be intense until the checkered flag of the main race on Sunday morning. Carlin (258 points) and Prema (224 points) can still mathematically win the championship, as a team can accumulate a maximum of 65 points (Two doubles in both races + two times the fastest laps in the race + the pole position for the main race).
The super license points for Sargeant?
As announced last month, American driver Logan Sargeant will join Williams provided he obtains his super license. Currently in third place in the championship (135 points), he must finish at least fifth, or sixth if he earns the two additional points for finishing the season without receiving penalty points, in order to acquire the required 40 Super License points to access Formula 1. Behind him in the championship stand: Doohan, Daruvala, and Fittipaldi, each with 126 points, with Liam Lawson in seventh place with 123 points. Logan Sargeant will have the pressure to finish ahead of these drivers. The reward of a Formula 1 seat awaits him at the end!
A newcomer
Calan Williams (Trident) will not participate in this meeting. The vacant spot has been given to Zane Maloney, also a Trident driver but in Formula 3. The Barbadian finished as the F3 runner-up this season and was the top rookie. However, Zane Maloney is rumored to be racing for Carlin next year.
Last Formula 2 track session for some
Who says last meeting, says last time in Formula 2 for some drivers. Currently, here are the drivers who will not be in the Formula 1 feeder series next year: Felipe Drugovich (champion driver), Liam Lawson (Super Formula in Japan), Logan Sargeant (In F1 with Williams if super license), according to our information, the Hitech GP duo, Juri Vips and Marcus Armstrong, would be heading to Indycar.
For these drivers, it is also probable that this could be their last race: Theo Pourchaire (If there is no third season with ART GP…), Richard Verschoor, Roy Nissany. At the moment, nothing is confirmed for these three drivers.
Long pauses …
68 days, or 2 months and 7 days, will have elapsed between the last race in Monza and the tests next Friday in Abu Dhabi. The cars will have gathered dust. The absence is being felt by the drivers and teams who are eager to compete. The absence is also felt by fans of the sport, as the end of the season draws near.
From November 23rd to 25th, post-season tests will take place on the same track. We will probably have a clearer view regarding future drivers. Victor Martins (ART GP) and Isack Hadjar (Hitech GP) will be among the participants. 98 days corresponds to the number of days when the Formula 2 cars will not be racing (the dates for pre-season tests are not known). The first race of 2023 will take place from March 3rd to 5th in Bahrain.
82 days… That’s the number of days we will have to wait next year between the penultimate meeting in Monza and the final round in Abu Dhabi…
Let’s enjoy this final meeting that will undoubtedly be exciting!
