With only one round remaining in the 2023 Formula 2 season, championship honours are being hotly fought coming into the Abu Dhabi finale. Two teams will go head to head in the finale- ART Grand Prix and Prema Racing.
Both teams have often found themselves on the podium, and it’s no surprise that they’re the two competitors for the title – with ART currently leading Prema by 26 points. But with a maximum of 65 points available for a team across a Formula 2 weekend, everything is still to play for heading to Yas Marina.
For ART, the objective is clear – they must not be outscored by Prema by 26 points. Just as long as their points tally is clear of Prema’s by the end of the weekend, they will be champions.
Alternatively, if ART score 39 points, they are champions regardless of where Prema finish both races. This will help Victor Martins – and most importantly, championship leader Théo Pourchaire – as the ART duo only have 2 wins to their name (one apiece), but 18 podium finishes, proving that their consistency is a strength that they can maximise in Abu Dhabi.
Prema have the harder task, as they need to maximise their points haul and outscore ART by 27 points to take the title home. Both Frederik Vesti and Oliver Bearman have multiple race wins to their name, and it will likely take at least one more to mount a challenge against ART.
But Prema have been team champions twice before, so they know how to gather a result when it matters, especially when Vesti and Bearman know how to score big points.
This scenario makes for an interesting finale in Abu Dhabi, especially with the Drivers’ Championship also in play. It will essentially fall to Martins & Bearman to play the team game, aiding their teammates’ drivers title challenges whilst also aiding the team for the teams’ championship.
