When discussing his future after the Belgian Feature Race, FIA Formula 2 Championship leader Felipe Drugovich said that he is still “Focused on F1” for 2023.
The Brazilian driver extended his points advantage during a successful Round 11 as he took pole in Qualifying, made a late charge to P4 in the Sprint Race, and finished as the runner-up in the Feature Race.
After his Belgian weekend, Drugovich now leads the championship by 43 points with just three more race weekends left this season, but as he moves a step closer to the title, it is still not clear where he will be driving next year.
During the post-Feature Race press conference in Spa-Francorchamps, the MP Motorsport driver assessed his options for 2023:
“Getting to F1 nowadays is very difficult; it’s looking like the opportunities for a [race] seat in F1 next year are very limited. There are other categories… but for now, I’m just focused on this [F2] Championship and trying to drive well, and hopefully, this result might get me to F1 one day.”
The 22-year-old is in a unique position of challenging for the title but not being a part of an F1 junior driver programme. Still, despite the difficulties in breaking into the top echelon of motorsport, Drugovich reiterated his determination to make it into F1:
“We try to contact every team we can and we’ll see what they say. Meanwhile, we have to keep scoring the results, and that’s something that might help me towards a seat. We’re just trying to stay focused on F1, that’s my dream, my goal.”
With silly season in full swing after Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement going into the summer break, the driver market looks particularly unpredictable this year and might grant Drugovich an opportunity for an F1 drive.
All he can do now – as he says – is continue performing at the level which has taken him to the top of the Driver’s Championship this season. With Zandvoort fast approaching before Monza rounds off the triple-header, Felipe will look to put on a show to win over the F1 team bosses.
Image Credit: Formula Motorsport Ltd
