Bruno Michel's Debrief: Bringing the curtain down on 2024

The 2024 season has come to an end and after a thrilling campaign, Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel reflects on an historic year for the Championship.

Breaking new ground with the introduction of a brand-new car for the ’24 season, we witnessed some incredible racing, record-breaking moments and a new Champion crowned.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER

At the start of 2024, many looked at the F2 grid as one of the most competitive ever. We had some very talented returnees racing alongside extremely promising rookies. When the final chequered flag dropped at the end of the Feature Race in Abu Dahbi, the season had seen 18 different race winners, proving that the talent across the grid was indeed very impressive.

It was also the season of an incredible battle for the crown, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar separated by half a point ahead of the final round of the year. They provided us with memorable races, and we were all gutted that Hadjar could not bring the fight to Bortoleto in the final race.

We will always remember 2024 as the year that led to four drivers making the step-up to Formula 1, with Bortoleto, Hadjar, Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli awarded F1 seats for 2025. Adding Jack Doohan to this list, this is the first time that so many drivers have graduated from F2. We appreciate that this is quite exceptional, but nonetheless highly deserved for all of them. I’m eager to see what their first full F1 season will bring!

ENTERED A CHAMPION. LEFT A CHAMPION.

It’s not that often that a rookie wins the Championship. It’s also quite rare that the F3 Champion comes to F2 and wins on his rookie season. Before 2024, we saw George Russell and then Oscar Piastri go from F3 Champion to F2 Champion the following year. So, when Gabriel Bortoleto joined F2 as the reigning F3 Champion and part of the McLaren young driver programme, people wondered if he could go back-to-back.

He inherited the first pole position of the season, and from there, he gradually built his title charge that peaked with a staggering win from last to first in Monza’s Feature Race. Bortoleto’s composure, precise driving style and maturity have led him to the ultimate success: the F2 crown. Rookie Champion in F3. Rookie Champion in F2. Gabriel Bortoleto brings Brazil back to the F1 grid in 2025. We are very proud to have witnessed him grow as a very talented driver, and we will follow him closely in his F1 career.

A TRUE FIGHTER

Every champion needs a worthy opponent. Bortoleto found one in Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman had to rebuild his confidence completely after a very challenging first F2 season. Switching to Campos Racing – a team that had been struggling for a few seasons – may have looked like a bit of a gamble, but behind the scenes, a lot of hard work was being done. And it ended up as a perfect match between Hadjar and the Spanish team.

The Red Bull junior driver’s explosive driving style and spirited mentality shone throughout the season. He ended the year with second place overall and the most wins. His call up to Formula 1 is highly deserved.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

In a season where anything could happen, I am sure everyone will remember Jeddah. Oliver Bearman went to bed on Friday evening as the F2 pole-sitter, and he woke up as a first-time Formula 1 driver for Ferrari on Saturday morning. At such a young age, to jump into one of the most prestigious F1 cars in front of millions watching around the world must have been very daunting, but he proved on that weekend that he was ready for the challenge. And by doing so, he also shone a very bright light on Formula 2 and its talented grid.

I also want to praise Franco Colapinto for his performance in F1. He was also called upon at the last minute and showed everyone how ready he was for the pinnacle of motorsport, making Argentina proud.

Both Bearman and Colapinto have highlighted how well F2 prepares the new generation to Formula 1.

There were so many great moments this season, including maiden F2 wins for Barbados, courtesy of Zane Maloney, Argentina with Colapinto, and Paraguay thanks to Joshua Duerksen.

And finally, I want to highlight the results of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Mercedes protégé, who had not raced in Formula 3, entered the F2 season with a lot of eyes on him and huge pressure. He overcame his lack of experience and took two wins. We’re confident he will adapt quickly in F1, too.

RESHUFFLE AND SURPRISES

The introduction of the new F2 car has reshuffled the Teams order a bit, with some squads adapting to the new machine quicker than others. In the end, Invicta Racing claimed the double, becoming Teams’ Champions and leading Gabriel Bortoleto to the Drivers’ title. Meanwhile, Campos racing finished second, gaining seven positions in the Standings. In third MP Motorsport re-joins the Top 3, after a strong season.

This year, every single team has claimed at least one race win, which is fantastic. After six years of racing with the same car, it took a lot of work from the everyone to understand the new machine and set it up to their liking, but ultimately, they all did a great job, and I am certain that next season we will see close fights again.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Formula 2 is closer than ever to Formula 1 in many aspects, one of which is the fact that there are many drivers who are part of F1 programmes. All five F2 graduates who will join the F1 grid in 2025 are members of F1 junior academies, which shows that this is a key factor on the road to F1, alongside the preparation that F2 offers.

Eighteen drivers have already been confirmed for 2025 out of 22 seats. Ten of those announced drivers graduate from Formula 3. They have proven their skills in F3, and some of them have had a taste in F2 already in the final rounds of the 2024 season. They will have to adapt quickly to fight against the more experienced drivers.

For the very first time, we will open the season in Melbourne in 2025, which is a very exciting and challenging track. There will be 14 rounds again next season, all known venues, which means the teams will have plenty of data to work with. I am sure that we will see some great racing throughout the season again.

Until then, once more, I want to thank everyone involved in our Championship for making it such a successful category, and I am not forgetting the fans who follow our races and feverishly support our teams and drivers. See you in 2025!