HITECH GRAND PRIX – 4th in Teams’ Championship
270 Points, 2 Feature Race Wins, 1 Sprint Race Win, 10 Podiums, 3 Fastest Laps
Hitech Grand Prix have had a stellar debut year in the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship as the team with a lexicon of racing programmes showed what they could be capable of in an ultra competitive field, and what could be the foundation for Hitech to be a perennial frontrunning team in Formula 2.
Achieving any form of success in a debut season is welcomed and for Hitech signing two seasoned drivers proved to be a coup as the 3 race wins and 10 podiums achieved was a great way for Hitech to announce themselves in the series; where most upstarts have struggled, Hitech went against the grain.
Though their season wasn’t without its low points, with the inter-team collision in Mugello springing to mind, along with the reputation that Nikita Mazepin in particular earned after several high profile incidents towards the end of the season putting a slight damper on their campaign.
But above all else, the inaugural campaign for Hitech is a positive one with lots more to watch out for and it has provided them with a good foundation to work on in future seasons.
NIKITA MAZEPIN – 5th in Drivers’ Championship
164 Points, 2 Feature Race Wins, 6 Podiums, 2 Fastest Laps
The Russian driver had come a long way from his tumultuous and erratic 2019 season to showcase his talent as a real charger and one with a potent overtaking prowess especially at the Hungaroring Round where he stormed through the field from 16th to finish in 2nd in the Feature Race on an alternate strategy.
His 5th place finish might suggest that he would have achieved more with better results, but it was enough to convince the Haas F1 Team that he is their man to replace their outgoing drivers for 2021, partnering alongside the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Champion and on-track rival, Mick Schumacher.
That promotion however has come with some doubts and criticism, following his tough driving particularly in the latter half of the season where penalties and reprimands were a talking point for him, which came to a head at the final two races of the season at the 2nd Sakhir Round.
Fast and ruthless on his day, Mazepin is certainly one of the guys to watch out for in F1 come 2021.
LUCA GHIOTTO – 10th in Drivers’ Championship
106 Points, 1 Sprint Race Win, 4 Podiums, 1 Fastest Lap
A returning journeyman Italian driver who’s been in the series since 2016 had a patchy season in the first half before coming back strong in the latter which helped the Hitech team achieve 4th in the Teams’ Championship, achieving a magnificent win in the changing conditions at the Hungaroring along the way.
10th in 2020 may not be his best season in his F2 career, but Ghiotto has had an amazing time in the championship having finished in the Top 10 in every season he’s competed in, with 3rd in 2019 being his best achievement and also winning with a debutant team shows what he’s capable of.
It would be a shame to see him go as he has had a go at other series prior to his F2 return having announced his retirement from the series at the end of 2019, it wasn’t the sort of year to end a career on as it was a testing period at times with no-scores aplenty in the first half of 2020.
He did rebound at the tail end of the season and that ensured Hitech of 4th in the Team’s Championship which would no doubt be credited to him on his part.
2020’s Final Thoughts
Overall it’s been a great season for the team from Silverstone as their expertise in multiple series was invaluable for their debut season in the world’s premier single seater feeder series, from the management, drivers and personnel all round it’s the sort of standard that prospective new F2 teams would strive for.
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