Chasing The Dream
First launched in January 2020, Formula 2’s first-ever docuseries Chasing The Dream brings fans right into the heart of the exhilarating and action-packed life on the penultimate rung of the single-seater racing ladder.
With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, the series’ fly-on-the-wall’ format follows the Championship’s brightest talents and their stories, showcasing the characters that bring the paddock to life.
Charting the trials and triumphs of being a racing driver at one of the highest levels of motorsport, the series lifts the veil on the stars of tomorrow, showing them in their quest for title glory and to achieve their ultimate dream – a seat in Formula 1.
Previous seasons have chronicled Nyck de Vries’ path to becoming Champion in 2019 and the paddock’s solidarity after the tragic loss of Anthoine Hubert, Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott’s fierce tight fight that went to the wire in 2020. Season 3 delved into Oscar Piastri’s extraordinary journey, going from rookie to Champion in triumphant style followed up by Felipe Drugovich making history for MP Motorsport and then Théo Pourchaire finally earning the F2 crown in 2023.
For 2024, Chasing The Dream follows every round of the campaign with more exclusive access and behind-the-scenes insight than ever before. Episodes will be released every Wednesday following a race weekend and you can catch all of the latest instalments via the F1 YouTube channel and F1TV.
EPISODE 1
It's back to school in 2024 and a new era for the Formula 2 Championship. Along with a new grid for the upcoming campaign, teams and drivers have a brand new car to get to grips with first, and the Chasing the Dream cameras are in Barcelona to track the very first laps for the new machine as well as chart how everyone found the experience.
It's then down to business as drivers undergo a strenuous test, not on track but during media day as we get to know the newest F2 stars before they hit the track and racing action gets underway.
EPISODE 2
The time for talking is over as the season gets underway proper with Round 1 from the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The back to school feeling quickly changes with the task at hand, and drivers refocus on Qualifying on Thursday night. For Invicta Racing, it’s an evening filled with euphoria though cameras capture the immediate moments after the session that Kush Maini loses pole position to teammate Gabriel Bortoleto.
Cameras track ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins and newcomer Zak O’Sullivan as the duo prepare for their first race as teammates at Sébastien Philippe’s reigning Champion squad. Elsewhere, Rodin Motorsport and Zane Maloney stamp their authority on the Championship at a very early stage, dominant around the Bahrain International Circuit.
EPISODE 3
With the cameras tracking all of the action from the second round of the year, early Championship leaders Rodin Motorsport are the focus in Episode 3. Heading the way in the Drivers’ Standings, Zane Maloney is eager to maintain his momentum from Round 1 while rookie teammate Ritomo Miyata looks to get to grips with the super-fast street circuit.
The weekend starts off on a tough note for the team after a difficult Qualifying session leaves both drivers down the order. Sprint Race day arrives but there is big news in the paddock as pole-sitter Oliver Bearman is set to make his F1 debut with Ferrari, deputising for Carlos Sainz for the remainder of the race weekend. It proves to be just one of the surprises across the rest of the Jeddah Round.
EPISODE 4
The drivers and teams receive a warm Albert Park welcome from the huge crowds of fans that are eager to meet as many of them as possible. Soaking up what is a truly special atmosphere, attentions turn from fun to full focus and on-track activity.
The final flyaway ahead of the return to Europe brings with it a chance to set the tone for the remainder of the season, and PREMA Racing are keen to restore themselves to the front of the pack. Oliver Bearman is returning from his Ferrari F1 exploits while rookie teammate and Mercedes Junior Team Driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli looks to establish himself in the Championship at this early phase.
In Qualifying, the Briton struggles while Antonelli fights for pole. The Italian's Saturday goes awry with a spin, while on Sunday both are back in the points in an action-filled race. Everyone else is vying to finish the weekend on a high in the Feature Race that is filled with drama from start to finish.
EPISODE 5
After a break in the calendar, Formula 2 returned to action in Imola for Round 4 of the 2024 campaign. Following in-season testing, teams and drivers were hoping that their hard work over the course of the three-day event paid immediate dividends.
For Gabriel Bortoleto and Invicta Racing, their speed was on full display in Qualifying, as the Brazilian earned a second Pole Position of his rookie season. MP Motorsport have the Chasing the Dream cameras in close proximity across the weekend and they capture the drama of the Sprint Race in which Franco Colapinto secures his maiden F2 victory with a final lap pass on Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron.
On Sunday, the battles continue all the way through a race filled with more incredible moments as the 2024 Championship takes twists and turns on European soil.
EPISODE 6
It’s the one they all want to win but there can only be one driver that leaves Monte Carlo victorious on Sunday. Round 5 of the 2024 season takes place around the famed streets of Monaco with everyone striving to be at their best around one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.
Cameras are with Campos Racing throughout the weekend, with Isack Hadjar battling for the lead of the Drivers’ Championship and looking to become the first driver since Oscar Piastri in 2021 to win three consecutive Feature Races in F2.
Teammate Josep María Martí is targeting a stronger weekend to arrest a difficult patch of form after bursting onto the scene in Sakhir earlier in the year.
Everyone is up for the fight around the Principality, even if the overtaking opportunities are scarce around the iconic venue. Get as close to the action as the drivers do to the walls in Episode 6 of Chasing the Dream from Monte Carlo.
EPISODE 7
The title fights are taking shape with all the teams and drivers eager to build momentum during this crucial triple-header. In Barcelona, Chasing the Dream cameras followed AIX Racing as the German outfit aimed to build on both Joshua Duerksen and Taylor Barnard’s recent podium and race-winning performances.
Everyone was up to speed quickly in Barcelona, with in-season testing meaning teams were finely split around the Spanish circuit, but it was Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron that was the driver to beat over one lap.
For Barnard, his weekend was made tougher after a mishap in Qualifying that left him starting from the back, while Duerksen was in the thick of the action in the early laps in what was a testing weekend for the team.
EPISODE 8
The second part of a hugely important triple-header in the FIA Formula 2 season took place around the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg and, as usual, there was drama throughout.
Qualifying could hardly have been closer as MP Motorsport’s Dennis Hauger claimed Pole Position over AIX Racing driver Joshua Duerksen by just 0.008s.
Chasing the Dream capture the elation and the agony as the Norwegian’s fortunes undergo a reversal later in the weekend.
Cameras are with Invicta Racing on a weekend in which rookie and reigning Formula 3 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto finally gets his F2 breakthrough moment. Teammate Kush Maini is eager to get some momentum back on his side heading into the second half of the 2024 season.
EPISODE 9
It’s the final leg of the triple-header as the Formula 2 paddock heads to Silverstone for what turns out to be a truly unpredictable weekend amid the typical British summer.
With rain almost a constant threat from the word go on Friday, teams and drivers had to be at the top of their game to keep ahead of the weather and their rivals.
Chasing the Dream cameras are with Hitech Pulse-Eight for what is the team’s home weekend. Paul Aron arrived as the Championship leader and in fine form, but a trying weekend for the Estonian resulted in his rival Isack Hadjar taking to the front for Campos Racing.
Teammate Amaury Cordeel is looking to build on his best F2 campaign to date, as the Belgian aims for a strong result on the team’s home turf.
EPISODE 10
It’s a hot one from the Hungaroring as the Formula 2 paddock gears up for Round 9 of the 2024 campaign in Budapest.
With the Championship picture taking shape, the contenders experience their fair share of ups and downs across the race weekend, while rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli turns things around from Saturday to Sunday for a maiden Feature Race victory.
Cameras are with DAMS Lucas Oil this weekend as the French squad and their drivers Jak Crawford and Juan Manuel Correa target more points ahead of the summer break.
The team has enjoyed strong race pace for the majority of the campaign, but speed in Qualifying is the area to improve which is the case once again in Hungary.
Neither Correa nor Crawford are deterred though, as they put on quite the show in a fightback to the points on Saturday with a three-wide moment with Oliver Bearman the highlight.
EPISODE 11
It is the final round before the summer break and the Formula 2 paddock descended upon Spa-Francorchamps for what could be a vital few days in both Championships.
Isack Hadjar, Paul Aron and Gabriel Bortoleto came into the weekend as the top three in the Drivers’ Standings, looking to steal a march on each other.
In a compelling piece of theatre, they were also the top three in Qualifying as Aron comes out on top in a closely fought contest.
However, things change on Sunday, as Hadjar took his fourth Feature Race victory of the season, extending his lead in the Championship.
The cameras catch it all, as they follow the trio going toe-to-toe all weekend in Spa, as well as Zak O’Sullivan's victory in a shortened Sprint Race.
EPISODE 12
It’s one of the driver’s favourites and after a summer break away, racing action returns to Monza and the Temple of Speed for Round 11 of the 2024 Formula 2 season.
Van Amersfoort Racing are aiming to recapture their early season form, with Enzo Fittipaldi and Rafael Villagómez feeling refreshed following the time away, with cameras following them closely across the weekend.
However, it’s always a lottery at Monza and there are several drivers whose weekend doesn’t go quite according to plan.
With F1 call-ups offering an extra spotlight on the Championship, plenty are looking to make their mark as the season resumes, especially with the Formula 3 Championship decider taking place.
EPISODE 13
Formula 2 returned to the streets of Baku for Round 12 of a season that continues to keep everyone guessing.
Chasing the Dream cameras were well placed as it turns out, with Trident shadowed across the weekend for Christian Mansell’s F2 debut, and Richard Verschoor’s ‘finally’ moment.
As the title race enters its final stages, the main contenders are aiming to secure vital points, with Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto engaged in a finely-poised battle at the top.
EPISODE 14
Episode 14 of this year’s Chasing the Dream catches us up with what the top four in the Drivers’ Championship have been up to before the resumption of the 2024 season in Qatar later this month.
Gabriel Bortoleto has been busy celebrating his birthday but was a big presence on the ground in Sao Paulo during the Grand Prix weekend. The Brazilian has since been announced as a Kick Sauber F1 driver for 2025.
Paul Aron has been focused on his training ahead of Qatar, Zane Maloney has been on the beach relaxing while Isack Hadjar has been on the road with RB as the team’s new Reserve Driver. Each of them however is laser-focused on what is to come when racing gets back underway.
EPISODE 15
Championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto is riding a wave of positive form that helped him overhaul Isack Hadjar and take over at the top of the Standings in Baku, but the title race is far from settled.
The Campos Racing driver seeks to fight back against the Brazilian, whilst Paul Aron has his own point to prove as racing resumes in Qatar.
The trio battle it out across a hugely important race weekend as they aim to put themselves in the best possible position for the finale at Yas Marina, where only one can become 2024 Formula 2 Champion.
EPISODE 16
It all comes down to the finale as the Formula 2 paddock heads to Yas Marina for the last race of the 2024 campaign. Gabriel Bortoleto headed up Isack Hadjar by half a point, making it the closest title fight in F2 history going into the final round.
With just two races to go in the season, the pressure is at its highest and every lap from Practice to Feature Race is consequential to the outcome of the title battle.
The contenders lay it all on the line as they fight to follow on from Théo Pourchaire and become the latest Formula 2 Champion, but how will they handle the build-up, pressure and final races of the year?
Watch the two title protagonists endure the twists and the turns of the final round of the season and the crowning moment of the 2024 Champion.