Formula 2 kicks off it’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi today, featuring the 2022 teams all preparing for their next campaign, which kicks off next March. Running for 3 days, the test gives each team the chance to collect vital data, and also allows some drivers their first drive in Formula 2 machinery. Running from 9am to 12pm, and 2pm to 5pm local time, this test gives teams 18 hours of track action from today until Saturday, and also sees the debut of Van Amersfoort racing. The driver lineups for the 3 days of testing are as follows…
Dennis Hauger makes the step up to Formula 2 with Prema Racing, having teamed up with them en route to the FIA Formula 3 title this year. Joining him at Prema for the test is Jehan Daruvala, switching over from Carlin after a successful 2021 Formula 2 campaign with the team, finishing 7th overall.
Over at Uni-Virtuosi, their 2022 lineup will both get their first taste of life within the team. Jack Doohan had previously driven for MP motorsport in 2021’s final 2 weekends, however he’ll be preparing for his first full Formula 2 season, after finishing as vice-champion in the 2021 Formula 3 championship. Joining him will be Marino Sato, moving from Trident after two years with the squad.
Another confirmed driver for 2022 is Logan Sargeant, who’ll be spending testing with Carlin ahead of his campaign with the team next year. He spent the year competing in Formula 3, bringing Charouz their first ever win in the series, however additionally raced with HWA in the Saudi Arabia round this year. Alongside him for the test is Liam Lawson, who raced for Hitech in 2021, finishing in 9th overall after taking his maiden win in the series.
Hitech retain Jüri Vips for the post-season test, after a successful campaign with the British squad. Managing to score his first 2 wins within 2 days, Vips finished the 2021 Formula 2 season 6th. Alongside him is Marcus Armstrong, who raced for DAMS in 2021, claiming his long-awaited maiden win at the Jeddah Corniche circuit.
After a history-making campaign in 2021, Théo Pourchaire will remain with ART Grand Prix for post-season testing. The Frenchman became Formula 2’s youngest ever race winner earlier this year in Monaco, and turned heads in the paddock with his performances. Frederik Vesti will complete the lineup for ART, staying with the squad he completed his 2021 Formula 3 campaign with, where he finished 4th overall in the standings.
Another team running their 2022 lineup is MP Motorsport. Clément Novalak remains with the team after joining them for the final 2 races of the 2021 Formula 2 season, whilst Felipe Drugovich returns to the Dutch squad after a successful partnership in 2020, securing his first 3 wins in the process.
For Charouz Racing System, it is a blend of past and present. Guilherme Samaia remains with the team for the test, after spending his 2021 Formula 2 campaign with the team. In the other car is Juan-Manuel Correa, who’s stepping into a Formula 2 car for the first time since August 2019, and the events of Spa-Francorchamps. Correa drove for Charouz in his 2019 campaign, picking up his first 2 podiums in the process.
Over at DAMS, it’s Roy Nissany, who’s spending the testing with the team to prepare for their second year together next year, after a campaign which saw Nissany’s maiden F2 podium in Monaco. Pairing up with him is Ayumu Iwasa, a Red Bull junior driver who spent 2021 in Formula 3, impressing the paddock in the process.
Campos are the final team with a driver confirmed for 2022 – Ralph Boschung will be remaining with the team next year, after a successful campaign saw him claim not only his first Formula 2 podium, but also his second, less than a week later! Olli Caldwell remains with the team for the post-race test after spending the final 2 race-weekends of 2021 racing with the Spanish squad.
Calan Williams will be testing with Trident after a successful campaign in Formula 3 with Jenzer, his first taste of F2 machinery. Alongside him is Teppei Natori, who also raced Formula 3, but in 2019 for Carlin. For both, it’s a step up to the next tier.
Finally, newcomers Van Amersfoort Racing will be running 3 drivers in the test. For days 1 and 2, Jake Hughes will be piloting the #22 car, after 3 outings for VAR’s predecessor, HWA Racelab, in 2021. However, on day 3, Cem Bolukbasi will take over driving duties, after competing in the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship with the team. Over in the #23 car, Amaury Cordeel takes the step up from Formula 3, after competing with Campos there in 2021.
With these lineups confirmed, it’s now a matter of seeing how everyone fares with these teams, ahead of the 2022 season. And with a lot of seats still unconfirmed, this could be the perfect showcase for many drivers to convince teams they are the right choice for next year.
Testing in Abu Dhabi runs from 16th-18th December, from 9am to 12pm & 2pm to 5pm locally, GMT+4.
