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Doohan and Sato complete new-look Virtuosi line-up for 2022
Virtuosi Racing have announced an all-new line-up for the 2022 campaign, with 2021 Formula 3 vice-champion Jack Doohan earning promotion up to Formula 2 and Japanese racer Marino Sato making the switch from Trident.
The duo replace Felipe Drugovich and Guanyu Zhou, with the latter becoming the team’s first Formula 1 graduate after three years with the team, joining Alfa Romeo for the 2022 campaign alongside Valtteri Bottas.
Winning four races and taking a further three podiums from seven rounds, Doohan narrowly missed out on the F3 title to Dennis Hauger, while leading Trident to Teams’ Championship success.
2022 will be the Australian’s first full year in F2, having taken part in the final two rounds of 2021, where he achieved a top five finish and second in Qualifying.
“I’m very pleased and excited to join forces with Virtuosi Racing for our 2022 FIA Formula 2 campaign,” said Doohan.” I’m looking forward to continuing the team's success and getting to work with the team in post-season testing this coming week!”
22-year-old Sato will complete the new-look line-up. He made his F2 debut at Monza towards the end of the 2019 campaign with Campos, before making the switch to Trident for 2022.
He’s spent the past two seasons with the Italian team, taking two points’ finishes. Sato was the 2019 Euroformula Open Champion, taking the title with nine wins, 11 podiums and six pole positions in just nine rounds.
He joins with F1 experience, having run for Alpha Tauri in the 2020 Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s really a privilege to join a team that is fighting for the championship,” said Sato. “I have to say a big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen, and to the team for trusting me. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season!”
The Virtuosi Racing team said: “We are very pleased to announce Jack Doohan and Marino Sato for the 2022 FIA Formula 2 season.
“Marino joins the team with a solid foundation of Formula 2 experience and Jack arrives as no stranger to success being the current FIA F3 Vice-Champion."