What to Watch For: The key storylines to look out for at Round 9 in Spa

22 July 2025

Formula 2 is almost set to go racing again after a short break, with a return to Spa-Francorchamps just around the corner for the drivers and their teams.

The title fight is in full swing ahead of two big race weekends before the summer hiatus, so who will come out on top in Spa?

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So as we continue to preview Round 9, let us look at some notable storylines you may want to look out for ahead of our trip to the Belgian venue…

WILL TITLE RACE HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

The 2024 Spa-Francorchamps weekend saw the top three in the Drivers’ Championship, Paul Aron, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto go head-to-head-to-head in both Qualifying and the Feature Race.

It was a dramatic showing that Hadjar won, and with just six rounds left in the season, what happens in Spa this weekend could be very important.

Currently, the top five in the Standings – from Richard Verschoor in first to Luke Browning in fifth – are separated by just 24 points.

Dunne, Crawford and Browning are firmly in the mix for the title heading to Spa

Verschoor leads the way with 122 points, but Jak Crawford is just two points behind him in second, finished on the podium in last year’s Feature Race and is coming off the back of a Sunday victory at Silverstone.

Alexander Dunne and Leonardo Fornaroli, in third and fourth respectively, also have victories to their name this season, and will be hopeful of coming out on top at Spa.

Any one of the top five could lead the Standings after this weekend, but which one will come out on top at Spa?

OUTSIDERS KEEN TO ENTER THE RING

Well, if the next set of five drivers have their say, they will hope none of them.

Arvid Lindblad, Sebastián Montoya, Josep María Martí, Victor Martins and Dino Beganovic have all showed tremendous speed this year but currently sit sixth to 10th in the Championship.

Campos Racing pairing Lindblad and Martí have two wins each in 2025, while Montoya has been on the podium in three of the last four rounds. Martins has qualified in the top three in seven out of eight rounds, while Beganovic has one Pole Position and two podiums to his name.

Campos teammates Lindblad and Martí are both still have a chance for the title

All five will be eager to have four strong races in Spa and Budapest, as they look to put themselves firmly in the mix for the title heading into the summer break.

They all have each shown their potential this season, but with results not always going their way, Spa will be a chance for them to claw their way back into the Championship picture.

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WHO WILL MASTER THE RAIN?

The forecast for this weekend’s action shows that there is a high chance of rain on all three days, meaning that Qualifying and both races could be held in wet conditions.

This could make for a tricky weekend for all involved, especially on Friday, where the drivers will need to adapt as quickly as possible in Free Practice to deliver their best laps in Qualifying.

Overtaking in the wet can be difficult, but as the Silverstone Feature Race proved, with the right setup, a driver who has confidence in their car, can make their way forward.

It is possible the drivers will face wet conditions at some point this weekend

But overtaking at Spa, no matter if it is in dry or wet conditions, as shown in last year’s wet Sprint Race, can be quite difficult. So, track position will be key, putting a huge importance on Qualifying.

Several drivers and teams on the grid have had previous success in wet weather conditions, so they will be very confident of being quick no matter what they face.

It’s not long before we find out though, so stay tuned to see who will reign supreme at Spa this weekend.