Shake up on the streets: Baku team-by-team round-up

After Round 12 of the 2024 Formula 2 campaign, the Drivers’ Championship advantage changed hands once again, while one team is beginning to establish themselves as the target over in the Teams’ Standings.

Here is how each stands leaving Baku going into the break.

INVICTA RACING

Another strong weekend, Gabriel Bortoleto brought home two points finishes that put him in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship. He put his wheel-to-wheel ability on full display, fighting for a P5 finish in the Sprint to add vital points before managing the Feature Race well for fourth place and a well-timed fastest lap.

Kush Maini started well after his Friday set-up choice paid off in Qualifying, but Sunday’s stall on the grid and subsequent crash was not how he’d have hoped to round things out in Baku.

READ MORE: Duerksen hails ‘unbelievable’ first Formula 2 victory in Baku

CAMPOS RACING

It was double disaster in Qualifying for Campos Racing as both Isack Hadjar and Josep María Martí wound up in the barriers beyond Turn 1. Things didn’t get much better for the Spanish outfit as both missed out on the points in the Sprint, and Martí was involved in the start line crash in the Feature Race.

Hadjar also lost the lead of the Drivers’ Championship to Bortoleto to cap off a weekend to forget. All eyes will immediately be on Lusail.

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MP MOTORSPORT

Another team that will be hoping for better things next time out, MP Motorsport were off the boil in Baku though Dennis Hauger did manage points on Sunday with P9.

Rookie teammate Oliver Goethe was in at the deep end in his second weekend of F2 and was unfortunate to be involved in the start incident in the Feature Race. They too will be aiming for more in Qatar in Round 13.

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PREMA RACING

The all-Italian line-up delivered in Baku in impressive fashion as both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and super sub Gabriele Minì hit the streets for the first time. Minì earned points on debut in the Sprint with a brilliant podium and third-place finish, a result repeated one day later by Antonelli as he fought for victory early on in the Feature. The latter was also involved in the Pole fight throughout Qualifying as the team looked in great form. If they carry this on in the final two rounds, they will be a factor once again.

READ MORE: Minì hails enjoyable Baku Practice despite less-than-ideal conditions on debut

RODIN MOTORSPORT

The second of the three teams that left Baku without a point, Rodin Motorsport were unfortunate to wind up without adding to their points total in fifth place. Zane Maloney looked poised to fight for a podium in the Feature but contact on his outlap with Antonelli spelled the end of his charge for the top spots. Rookie teammate Ritomo Miyata also struggled on his first visit to the Baku City Circuit.

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HITECH PULSE-EIGHT

After missing out on the top 10 in Qualifying, it looked like it was shaping up to be another long weekend for Paul Aron. But two comeback performances from P12 on the grid left him with two sixth-place finishes. A solid points haul considering how things could have gone. He’s still in the title fight but needs to recapture that early season form. Amaury Cordeel was just two places out of the points on Sunday and will be aiming to repeat his late season form from past campaigns.

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ART GRAND PRIX

Both sides of the ART Grand Prix garage were happy with their Baku performances as Victor Martins achieved two top five finishes, even fighting for the Feature victory. Rookie Luke Browning also impressed on Sunday, moving into the top 10 and securing a seventh-place finish in his first weekend in Formula 2.

It also marked the ninth-consecutive points result for the team, the longest such streak currently ongoing for any team on the grid as the team continues to find pace late on in the season.

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DAMS LUCAS OIL

In terms of driver scoring streaks, Jak Crawford has the longest chain of points finishes at the moment, going back to the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race after his two top eight results in Baku. The American driver was on the podium in P2, but disappointed not to take the win. Teammate Juan Manuel Correa was out in the Feature Race, but the French team is looking strong going into the final two rounds based on their race pace.

READ MORE: Jak Crawford’s Baku Weekend in his Words

TRIDENT

After a disappointing Sprint, Richard Verschoor was a winner again in Formula 2 with a great drive in the Feature Race. Having earned Pole Position on Friday, the Dutch driver battled with ART’s Martins for the win, coming out on top despite bent steering in the closing stages.

His victory was also added to by rookie Christian Mansell, who achieved two points finishes out of two on his maiden F2 weekend. Verschoor has now been in the top five in five of the last seven races, an impressive streak to say the least.

READ MORE: Round 12 Post-Feature Race Press Conference

AIX RACING

Joshua Duerksen earned his maiden F2 victory after two podium finishes earlier in the season. The Paraguayan driver has been in impressive form as of late, earning points in each of the last five races, including his Baku Sprint Race win. After taking his time getting up to speed, the rookie is running well now. Teammate Niels Koolen is still in his discovery phase in what was just his second F2 weekend of the season around one of the toughest venues on the calendar.

READ MORE: Fittipaldi happy with setup decision after finishing Practice quickest in Baku

VAN AMERSFOORT RACING

Enzo Fittipaldi and Rafael Villagómez were unable to secure points for VAR in Baku in either race as the team struggled around the street circuit. Fittipaldi was frustrated in Qualifying after he was left without a slipstream as everyone fought to not lead the pack, while Villagómez was bumped back down the order after improving into the top 10 on his lap. It set up a tough weekend from that point onwards around a track where overtaking can be difficult.