Bennett keen to repeat 2025 Lusail heroics by returning to the points with VAR

27 November 2025

John Bennett is delighted to be back at the track where he made his Formula 2 debut in 2025, as the Van Amersfoort Racing previewed the Championship’s return to action in Lusail.

The British driver impressed that weekend, scoring points in his first ever Feature Race with VAR, a solid run to P8 giving him a first outing to remember.

Speaking in the Qatar paddock ahead of Round 13 getting started, Bennett reflected on a “special” few days for him personally.

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“It was a super special weekend for sure,” said Bennett. “My first time in F2, my first time on a F1 weekend, it was completely unexpected. It's a very different feeling walking into the paddock now, and I am really looking forward to it.

“It's my first time repeating a track, so that experience will really help, and I can't wait to get started. I was strong last year for my debut, and I can't wait to go again.”

Bennett and the rest of the paddock have had a bit of time off since the last round in Baku, and he enjoyed the break, he says there is a huge sense of excitement at the chance to return to racing.

Bennett made his debut in Formula 2 in Qatar last season and scored points in the Feature Race

“It's great to be back in the paddock, I definitely missed it, feels like it's been quite a while,” continued Bennett. “The break was nice, but it's great to be back in the paddock.

“I think now it's really just about getting settled in as soon as possible again. It's been a big break for everyone, but it's about getting back in the car, and feeling comfortable straight away.

“It's a very high speed track and you need a lot of confidence, so you want to start building up as much as you can.”

What will give Bennett some confidence is the strides he and VAR have taken with the car in the recent rounds, as he scored his first points of the season in the Monza Feature Race, finishing 10th.

As well as that, the 22-year-old is eager to be able to use the experience he has from last year’s Lusail and Yas Marina rounds to end the season on a high.

Bennett feels he has made a lot of progress over the last season as an F2 driver

“I've definitely progressed a lot over the past year,” said Bennett. “But it has been a tricky season, it has not been as strong as we would have hoped, or as strong as we were when I jumped in last year.

“But it's come on in a lot of ways. Every round we are still learning and improving, and I will just be putting everything out there for these last two rounds and with a bit of experience, that will help too.

“Looking back, I qualified P10 at the Red Bull Ring, was on Sprint pole, and the race pace was very strong, but just unfortunately I was involved in a last lap incident.

“We also struggled a bit in the first half of the year with the race pace and the tyre deg, but we've solved that the last couple of rounds, and we've been getting a lot stronger.

“Monza, I scored my first points and Baku too was strong race pace. So we are really moving in a good direction with the car, but nailing quali is important to start the weekend in the right way.”

Bennett is hopeful of not only scoring points but also finishing on the podium before the end of the season

Looking ahead, Bennett is hopeful of returning to the points, and before the season’s end, he is keen to take home some silverware.

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“I think points are the aim,” he added. “Obviously, I was P8 last year on my first ever weekend. So good results last year, and this year I am aiming for the points again.

“I'd love to finish the year on the podium, that's a goal of mine, but challenging in the top 10 is where I want to be.”