Engines

Formula 2, the springboard for future Formula 1 champions

Over the Baku GP weekend Formula 2 will also be the protagonist, now in its third-last round of a season that sees Leonardo Fornaroli in the lead. A category of passage to the top series, F2 represents the most concrete test bench to measure the talent of future Formula 1 drivers

19 September 2025

5' min read

The Formula 1 season continues from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. On the shores of the Caspian Sea, in a country that marks a meeting point of cultures and the border between Asia and Europe, the 2025 championship begins an autumn of races around the world.

The last European round of the year, the Monza Grand Prix, drew a large number of fans hoping for a red remake of 2024. Instead, they saw the triumph of Max Verstappen, who ended a streak of five wins in a row for McLaren. The Dutchman, by now without world championship ambitions for 2025, is a driver capable of always maximising the potential of his single-seater: at Monza he even managed to achieve his fifth pole position of the year, the same number as Piastri and one more than Norris.

The two McLaren drivers, now separated by 31 points in the standings, are experiencing a fight for the drivers' championship in the shadow of the papaya rules. The rules of respect and fairness dictated by the Woking stable take the spice out of the race, but, at the same time, they are also a great sign of civilisation in a world - including the sporting world - that badly needs it. After all, with so many races, talent will prevail over fate and, literally, the best will win.

PILOTI E COSTRUTTORI

Ferrari continues to be underwhelming, but for Italian fans the Mameli anthem was played on Saturday, during the first Formula 2 race, won by Leonardo Fornaroli. In the season of the return of an Italian to the Formula 1 starting grid, the preparatory championship to the world's top motorsport competition is giving certainty about the qualities of another national talent, already a Formula 3 winner last year. But let's take a look at how the minor Formula 1 series works and understand how it has, over the years, allowed many talents to emerge and make their Formula 1 debut.

First the GP 2 Series and then Formula 2: the preparatory championship for Formula 1

The Formula 2 championship is the springboard for drivers aiming for Formula 1. Introduced in its current form by the FIA in 2017, it follows an idea of Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, who in 2005 devised a championship to prepare young talent for Formula 1, namely the GP 2 Series. Minor formula championships already existed (e.g. Formula 3000) but they were not run to enhance the talent of young drivers: Formula 2, as well as from 2019 Formula 3, follows the Circus around the world by filling race weekends with qualifying on Friday and two races, a Sprint Race (120km) on Saturday and a longer one on Sunday (170km, called the 'Feature Race').

To ensure homogeneity of performance and give more room for driver talent, the cars are essentially identical to each other. Manufactured by the Italian company Dallara and powered by Renault, they differ only in terms of tuning by the teams. This is a detail not to be underestimated given that the more established teams (such as the Veneto-based Prema Racing) often come out on top, but, to ensure technical fairness, individual developments are not allowed: spare parts must be purchased by the organisers and structural repairs entrusted to Dallara.

Licence points, but in Formula 1!

A prerequisite to be a Formula One driver is to hold a Super Licence, introduced in 1984. In order to apply for this licence, drivers must meet the requirements of the International Sporting Code, including being at least 18 years of age (in exceptional cases even 17), passing the FIA's theory test, which was created to prove knowledge of Formula 1 regulations, having completed at least 80 per cent of two seasons in the FIA's prescribed championships (including Formula 2, Formula 3, Indycar, Formula E) and having accumulated at least 40 points in the previous three seasons. It is not the points from the races that count, but the final placing in the season! The championship that provides the most points is Formula 2, which awards 40 points to each driver occupying the podium in the final standings, up to 3 points to the driver in tenth position. Fewer points are awarded by Formula 3: 30 for the winner of the championship, 25 for the runner-up and 20 for the third place on the podium.

Formula 2 championship winners from 2017 to date: how did their careers continue after the title?

Participation in Formula 3 and Formula 2 is not merely a bureaucratic act of collecting points: it is also about being ready for Formula 1, its rules and its pace. Moreover, for the Formula 1 teams it is an opportunity to get a clear idea of the young prospects, in a world that no longer allows free testing. Hence the birth of the Academies, a kind of driver pool enlisted by a Formula 1 team and supported (also financially) during this development phase. As proof of the usefulness of the minor series, many of the drivers currently on the F1 grid have stamped their names on the roll of honour of the Formula 2 championships from 2017 to 2024.

VINCITORI DEL CAMPIONATO DI FORMULA 2 DAL 2017 AL 2024

In fact, there are no fewer than four former Formula 2 world champions on the grid in the 2025 season: Leclerc, Russell, Piastri and Bortoleto. The latter won the Formula 2 championship in 2024, at his first attempt, and like his three colleagues was a Formula 3 winner at his first participation. The F3-F2 combination is the true test of talent: all four drivers have confirmed since their rookie season that they are ready for the challenge of Formula 1. And who knows whether Piastri will be the first to make the F3-F2-F1 hat-trick, moreover, in the space of just six seasons!

However, winning in Formula 2 does not automatically give you a Formula 1 seat, considering that places are limited and that in view of the 2026 entry, Cadillac preferred to bet on the experience of the Valtteri Bottas - Sergio Perez duo. So Theo Pourchaire (2023 winner) and Felipe Drugovich (2022) are still waiting for their chance.

Young Italian talents in Formula 2: Fornaroli and Minì

Among the talents in Formula 2 are two Italian drivers following in Antonelli's wake: Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriele Minì. Leonardo Fornaroli, a 2004 born driver from Piacenza, won the Formula 3 championship in 2024 and is currently leading the Formula 2 championship with 21 points ahead of the second, Luke Browning. The driver from Piacenza has always made consistency his strong point, but since he started winning (the Silverstone 2025 Sprint Race) he has racked up four consecutive weekends on the first step of the podium in one of the two races in his category. Not being a member of any Formula 1 Driver Academy, Fornaroli has not participated in any Formula 1 weekends as a Free Practice 1 driver. This very release from a team that supports him leaves him a free agent, i.e. free to settle with whomever he wants. But will there be room for him?

CLASSIFICA TOP 10 PILOTI IN FORMULA 2

The second Italian driver is Gabriele Minì, born in Palermo in 2005, who has on his side the fact of being supported by the Alpine Driver Academy. Not a top team, but perhaps for this very reason a team that could guarantee a jump into Formula 1, given also the sliding doors of the role of Gasly's partner. Last season in Formula 3 Minì had finished right behind Fornaroli, in a final head-to-head in the last GP. This year he is shining in spurts and will probably remain in the F2 category in 2026.

F1 and F2 Baku schedules

The Baku weekend will come to life already on Friday, with Formula 2 qualifying at 12:00 noon, the first decisive moment for the young talents. On Saturday, after the F2 Sprint at 12.15pm, it will be Formula 1 which will take centre stage: the spotlights will be turned on at 14.00pm for the qualifying of the top category. On Sunday it's time for the races: the Formula 2 Feature Race will start at 09:00, while Formula 1 will turn on the lights at 13:00.