Bruno Michel’s Debrief: Take a bow class of 2022

25 November 2022

As the curtains close on an enthralling 2022 FIA Formula 2, CEO Bruno Michel looks back at all the achievements up and down the grid from the season finale in Yas Marina.

From another Formula 1 graduation, to MP Motorsport doing the double, Michel discusses the many success stories from the weekend and casts his eye towards 2023. The CEO also thanked everyone involved and all the fans for supporting the Championship on another incredible journey this season.

SARGEANT MAKES IT 11

Logan Sargeant was under huge pressure and media scrutiny throughout the final round of the season, at the Yas Marina Circuit. Weeks prior, Williams had announced that should the American get his Super License, he would be graduating to Formula 1, alongside Alex Albon, from 2023.

Third in the Drivers’ Standings ahead of Round 14, Sargeant kept his nose clean all weekend to score points in both races. In the end, he classified fourth overall, losing one position to teammate Liam Lawson, but he did exactly what needed to be done to make his dream come true, guaranteeing a seat in F1.

He also ended 2022 as top rookie and thus will receive the Anthoine Hubert Award next month at our Prize Giving Ceremony.

It’s amazing to think that his career was at a standstill after a very strong Formula 3 campaign in 2020. He grabbed the next opportunity with both hands and determination, to turn things around… He becomes the 11th F2 driver to join the F1 grid. What an achievement!

MP MOTORSPORT’S CLEAN SWEEP

MP Motorsport joined the paddock in 2013 and have been a steady force on the F2 grid. In 2020, they gave then-rookie Felipe Drugovich his first chance in Formula 2. On their first race weekend together, the Brazilian took the Sprint Race win in Spielberg. It was a fruitful collaboration, and the team were sad to see Drugovich switch to Virtuosi Racing for 2021. After a season away, which turned out to be more challenging than expected, the Brazilian returned to the Dutch outfit with the promise to make 2022 a success.

It turned out to be the best decision both sides made, with Drugovich claiming the Drivers’ Championship, with one round to spare. All that was left was clinching the Teams’ crown in Abu Dhabi. Level on points with ART Grand Prix, everyone at MP was fully focused on the task at hand.

On Sunday, at the chequered, they became Team Champions by eight points over Carlin in second. It’s the Dutch outfit’s first F2 titles. They have become a force to be reckoned with, having already signed 2021 Formula 3 Champion Dennis Hauger for next season. Congratulations to everyone at MP Motorsport!

LAWSON ROCKETS TO THE TOP 3

It was a busy and emotional weekend for Carlin at the Yas Marina Circuit. The 2018 F2 Team Champions were third in the Teams’ Standings, and they were mathematically still in contention for the title. To add to the pressure, both of their drivers, Logan Sargeant and Liam Lawson, had a lot to play for, starting with Free Practice in F1 on Friday.

The pair had to jump from the F2 car to their respective F1 machine at Red Bull and Williams, and back again into their Carlin seats just in time for Qualifying. Both managed the pressure very well, along with Felipe Drugovich, Théo Pourchaire and Jack Doohan.

Lawson’s 2022 campaign has not been as strong as he had hoped at the beginning of the season. He arrived in Abu Dhabi seventh in the Championship. Boosted by a successful FP1 outing, he claimed the Saturday Sprint Race and added another podium to his tally with third place in the Feature Race. Thanks to 26 points scored at Yas Marina, the Kiwi overtook four drivers in the Standings, and finished third behind Drugovich and Pourchaire.

As for Carlin, they pocketed a total of 39 points, the most out of everyone else, and enough to pass ART to take second in the Teams’ Standings. A great way to end the season!

HIGHLIGHTS AND HEARTBREAKS FROM ROUND 14

In a season of ups and downs, rookie Ayumu Iwasa showed a lot of pace and great promise. Following a pointless weekend at Monza, the DAMS’ driver was on top form for the final round of the year, claiming pole position and Feature Race victory in Abu Dhabi. This allowed him to finish fifth in the Championship, and second best-placed rookie behind Logan Sargeant. It is also worth noting that DAMS claimed 1-2 in the Qualifying session, the only team to have achieved this in 2022.

Meanwhile, it was a tough weekend for ART Grand Prix. The French squad was neck and neck with MP Motorsport ahead of Round 14, and things looked quite positive after Théo Pourchaire qualified in P3. However, it all went downhill from there. The Frenchman hit a bird in the closing laps of the Feature Race and the incident led to a retirement. Failing to score points, ART dropped one position in the Championship to finish in a bitter third place.

Finally, it was fantastic to see Juan Manuel Correa back on the F2 grid for a race weekend, three years after the tragic events that happened in Spa-Francorchamps. It is yet another step in his amazing recovery…

2023 HAS ALREADY STARTED

A few days after the chequered flag dropped on the 2022 season, the teams have been back on track for post-season testing. Some have already made official which driver will join them in the 2023 challenge.

In fact, seven drivers have been confirmed, starting with Dennis Hauger moving from PREMA Racing to 2022 Champions MP Motorsport. Meanwhile, PREMA will focus on reclaiming their crown, pairing race winner Frederik Vesti with F3 graduate Oliver Bearman.

Campos Racing have also revealed their 2023 line-up, which will include the return of Ralph Boschung alongside newcomer and F3 graduate Kush Maini. Trident have signed Clément Novalak with whom they enjoyed a strong F3 season in 2021. And finally, DAMS have announced that Arthur Leclerc will embrace the F2 challenge after two seasons in F3.

I’m already quite excited to see what the future season holds, but for now, I would like to thank everyone in our paddock for another great season of racing, and to the F2 fans, thank you for your continued passion and support!