Having spent the past four seasons with PREMA Racing in various championships, Robert Shwartzman says he wants to ‘finish on a very, very good note” in “this final race with the PREMA guys and in F2,” indicating that he is unlikely to return for a third year in Formula 2.

Still mathematically in contention for the Drivers’ title, Shwartzman is currently second in the standings, 51.5 points off his teammate Oscar Piastri and in prime position to end the year as vice-champion, with one round and three races to go.

Qualifying on the front row for just the second time this season, Shwartzman took three top-five finishes, including two podiums in Jeddah, enjoying his highest-scoring weekend since Round 3 in Baku.

“I was very happy with the pace that we had, with how we prepared and how everything felt,” said Shwartzman on Round 7 in Saudi Arabia. “The atmosphere in the team was really good. I am not disappointed with the round, but I did really want to do better.

READ MORE: Boschung’s Guest Column: We were very quick from the get-go in Jeddah

Shwartzman scored two podiums in Jeddah
Shwartzman scored two podiums in Jeddah

“I think that is normal, though. I felt that I could have done better, starting with Qualifying, but it was a good result, and it moves me to P2 in the Championship, which is a positive thing.”

First racing for PREMA in the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, Shwartzman moved to FIA Formula 3 with the team in 2019 and took the title, before stepping up to F2 for 2020, where he finished fourth overall.

“We will have the same approach in Abu Dhabi as we did in Saudi,” said Shwartzman ahead of the season finale. “We’ll try to put everything together, have a really good quali, and then have a really nice race and get some good points.

“I am going to push as best as I can, but the main thing is to just enjoy this final race with the PREMA guys and in F2 - I want to finish on a very, very good note.”

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Shwartzman L is second in the Drivers Championship 51.5 points off teammate Piastri R
Shwartzman (L) is second in the Drivers' Championship, 51.5 points off teammate Piastri (R)

A number of changes have been made to the layout of the Yas Marina circuit, and the Russian said he’s itching to give it a try.

“I expect to have an awesome time driving here,” he continued. “I really loved Saudi and I really liked the track. It was really impressive and lovely. I am hopeful that we will have the same feeling with this track. It is a nice track. I drove here last year in a Formula 1 car, and it was awesome.

“They've modified it and I want to see what it’s like now. I just want to enjoy driving it. I think it’s going to be really cool. Hopefully, it will be more interesting for overtaking."