WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The title race, rookies and surprises in Lusail

26 November 2025

The wait is almost over as FIA Formula 2 racing returns to your screens and the 2025 season resumes.

It has been a title fight that has taken so many twists and turns, and in Lusail, Qatar, we could see the crowning of a new Champion.

But there’s plenty more to keep an eye out for this weekend around the Lusail International Circuit…

FIRST CHANCE FOR FORNAROLI

Lusail provides Championship Leonardo Fornaroli with his first opportunity to wrap up the 2025 Championship, although several factors will need to go in the Italian’s favour in order to clinch the crown.

He currently sits on 188 points, 19 clear of second-placed Jak Crawford, though three more drivers remain in mathematical contention.

Luke Browning sits third on 161 points, with Richard Verschoor fourth on 151, while Alexander Dunne completes the top five on 130.

Put simply, Fornaroli needs a 40-point advantage by the time the chequered flag falls on Sunday in Qatar to seal the title no questions asked.

Outscoring Crawford by 21 points would go a long way in achieving that, though the likes of Browning and Verschoor will want their say in the matter as well.

There are a whole host of other permutations that could take the title fight in a different direction, with Dunne needing the most to fall in his favour in order to remain a factor come Abu Dhabi.

Last season provided one of the most exciting rounds as Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar and Paul Aron fought for Feature Race victory in Lusail. It’s a circuit that seems to provide some huge moments in a title race.

Fornaroli could clinch the 2025 Drivers' title this weekend in Lusail

NEW FACES

We have several drivers making their F2 debuts this weekend, with Nikola Tsolov and James Wharton stepping up to the plate for the first time.

Tsolov will be racing with his 2026 team Campos Racing, driving alongside Arvid Lindblad ahead of his full-time promotion next season.

Wharton meanwhile will partner Laurens van Hoepen, who raced in F2 for the first time in Baku, for the Lusail round.

Both drivers secured wins during the 2025 FIA F3 campaign, with Tsolov competing for the Championship and ultimately ending the year as runner-up to Champion Rafael Câmara.

Last year, Dino Beganovic and John Bennett were the drivers making their F2 debuts for DAMS Lucas Oil and Van Amersfoort Racing respectively.

Both drivers were in the points by the end of the weekend, with Beganovic starring on Sunday and winding up fifth in the Feature Race. Can this year’s rookies replicate their success in 2025?

Nikola Tsolov is one of two rookies making their F2 debuts this weekend alongside James Wharton

TEAMS’ TITLE FIGHT HOTTING UP

Invicta Racing continues to lead the way, but Hitech TGR remains within striking distance in the Teams’ Standings.

The UK-based outfits are set to go head-to-head in the final races. Invicta lead the field on 269 but Hitech is just 12 points back in P2, with third-placed Campos Racing slightly further adrift on 221 points.

While Invicta have more wins than their rivals, currently taking five wins so far in 2025, Hitech has secured four podiums in the last four races, including two wins in the same time frame.

The Silverstone-based outfit is arguably the form team on the grid currently heading into the title-deciding double header. Browning, Beganovic and the team may well have found their best form at the perfect moment.

Aron took Feature victory after earning pole position last year but will the polesitter convert in 2025?

QUALIFYING FORMBOOK

As the season reaches its final stages, points matter more than ever and the bonus score for putting it on pole could prove to be decisive in these final rounds.

So far in 2025, the driver who has qualified on pole has taken victory just three times, a relatively low conversion rate.

However, two of those instances have come in the most recent two rounds, as Luke Browning took victory in Monza, while Jak Crawford earned top spot around Baku.

Last season, Paul Aron was able to take pole and Feature victory, although he finished behind Gabriel Bortoleto on the road and was promoted after the Brazilian’s time penalty.

Will this year’s pole-sitter continue the conversion streak, or will we see another winner from further back on the grid?