Get to Know the Upcoming F1 Talent
The Formula 2 grid arrives in Saudi Arabia this weekend for the third and fourth race of the season.
The grid consists of 22 drivers, all looking to show the Formula 1 teams their talent in the hopes of one day driving the most prestigious cars in racing. Here is a list of the top F2 drivers and predictions for where they might find themselves during the upcoming 2024 season.
Oliver ‘Ollie’ Bearman
Returning for his second year in F2, Bearman impressed many in his rookie season, finishing sixth in the championship with four wins, six podiums, and three pole positions. The 18-year-old British driver is a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and will take on reserve driver duties for Haas and Scuderia Ferrari in F1, in addition to driving for Italian team Prema Racing in F2. Bearman is set to drive in six free practice sessions this season for Haas and possibly with Ferrari as well. Bearman’s future could follow a path similar to other Ferrari Driver Academy alumni Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher, being placed in Kick Sauber, or, more likely, Haas in F1, respectively.
Bearman will get the chance to showcase his talent this weekend as he steps into the SF-24 to replace Carlos Sainz Jr., who will miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with appendicitis.
Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli is a rookie in F2, racing alongside Oliver Bearman for Prema Racing. Having skipped Formula 3 after winning Formula Regional (FRECA) last season, Antonelli has a lot of expectations on his shoulders. Antonelli is part of the Mercedes Junior Programme and scored his first F2 point in the Bahrain feature race. The Italian driver is only 17 years old, and therefore, unable to legally drive a F1 car; however, Toto Wolff has confirmed Antonelli is set to test the Mercedes W13 later this year when of legal driving age. Antonelli is a prominent candidate for Lewis Hamilton’s replacement as Hamilton leaves Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season.
Zak O’Sullivan
Zak O’Sullivan is another rookie on the F2 grid. O’Sullivan finished second in the F3 championship last year with four wins and five podiums. He joins the F2 grid this season with ART Grand Prix, the team that help cultivate several F1 champions, including Lewis Hamilton. The 18-year-old British driver is a part of the Williams Driver Academy and could be a suitable candidate for a Williams seat if they let go current driver Logan Sargeant, or if Alex Albon is poached by another F1 team. O’Sullivan had a great start to his F2 career, finishing fourth in the 2024 Bahrain feature race.
Victor Martins
Victor Martins is a 22-year-old French driver currently with ART Grand Prix in his second year of F2. Having been awarded the top rookie for 2023 over Ollie Bearman, many have high expectations of the Frenchman. Martins is a part of the Alpine Academy, which developed such drivers as Oscar Piastri and Zhou Guanyu. Current Alpine drivers, Estaban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, are both out of contract at the end of the current season, leaving potential spot open for Martins. However, if Alpine re-sign both drivers, they could find themselves in another predicament, losing a top young talent in Martins. Alpine already have Jack Doohan as their reserve driver for the season, after the Australian was unable to secure a F1 seat following his second year in F2. Doohan has stated that he is currently focused on obtaining a spot on the grid for the 2025 season, making Martins’ promotion to F1 even less likely.
Alpine, of course, compete in other series as well, beyond Formula racing. Most notably, the French team is involved in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), where former F1 driver and Mercedes F1 reserve driver, Mick Schumacher, is currently racing. Martins could findhimself in a similar situation to Schumacher if he wins the F 2 title but is unable to secure a seat in F1 with Alpine.
Zane Maloney
Following his departure from the Red Bull Junior Programme at the end of the previous F2 season, Zane Maloney joined the Sauber Academy, which is a much lesser-known driver program. Maloney finished his rookie season with four podiums but failed to win a race, leading to his departure from the Red Bull Junior Programme. The Barbadian driver, however, managed to put on a strong display in the first race weekend of the season, winning both the F2 sprint race and the feature race in Bahrain. With his move to the Sauber Academy, Maloney could be a front runner for a seat as the team is taken over by Audi.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Gabriel Bortoleto is a Brazilian racing driver and the reigning F3 champion who is currently entering his first season in F2. Despite only two wins in his first F3 season, Bortoleto had six podiums and dominated the championship, winning the title by 45 points over Williams Academy driver Zak O’Sullivan. At the time, Bortoleto was not tied down to a driver Academy, however, the Brazilian is managed by A14 Management, which was co-founded by two-time F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso. Having impressed several F1 teams last season, Bortoleto joined the McLaren Driver Development program prior to his F2 debut. McLaren currently have both their F1 drivers tied down until 2026; however, the program could help Bortoleto explore options within IndyCar or Formula E, while also gaining experience testing a F1 car.
