Formula 2 heads to the Yas Marina Circuit for the final round of the season, beginning with Free Practice at the F2 Abu Dhabi GP. Leonardo Fornaroli wrapped up the Drivers’ Championship last weekend, joining Charles Leclerc, Nyck de Vries, and Felipe Drugovich as one of the few F2 Champions to secure the title with at least one round remaining.
Although Invicta Racing has already sealed the Drivers’ crown with Fornaroli, their attention now shifts to securing the Teams’ Championship. If they succeed, they will become only the second outfit, after Prema Racing’s 2020 and 2021 triumphs, to claim multiple Teams’ titles in the modern Formula 2 era.
This weekend could also deliver several F2 record-breaking moments. If Richard Verschoor wins either race, he will move clear as the driver with the most Formula 2 victories, having currently tied the record with eight wins. Additionally, both Verschoor and Victor Martins enter the finale level on ten fastest laps each; another one for either driver would hand them the all-time record outright to close the season.
Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak will also be completing his maiden weekend in F2 with Trident, having an opportunity on track before starting with ART Grand Prix for the 2026 F2 season.
Minì starts strong in Abu Dhabi
Sebastián Montoya was the first driver to set the pace on his opening push lap, clocking a 1:41.028. However, Joshua Dürksen immediately went quicker by 0.020s to take over P1. Victor Martins, who won the Feature Race at the Qatar GP, slotted into P3. Moments later, Montoya had a small off-track moment, running wide between Turns 3 and 4.
As the early laps settled, the field continued cycling through improvements. One by one, drivers moved to the top of the timing sheets, with the benchmark steadily dropping into the 1:40s with 25 minutes remaining.
Gabriele Minì was the first to break into the 1:39s, setting a new standard at the front. Dürksen, Martins, and Alexander Dunne soon followed, joining him in the 1:39 bracket as the pace intensified.
15 minutes left of Practice
With most teams familiar with the track, having tested at the Yas Marina Circuit on several occasions, the timings were tight with 0.307s between the top ten.
Fornaroli was one of the few drivers who remained on track, while the rest of the field returned to the pitlane before preparing for their final push laps with ten minutes remaining.
Arvid Lindblad briefly moved to the top of the timings with a 1:39.790, but his lap was deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 1. He was not alone in struggling, as several drivers were running right on the edge of the limits throughout the session.
Minì then improved on his previous time, only for Crawford to move ahead with a 1:39.557. However, Crawford’s lap was also removed for a track limits violation at Turn 1. Lindblad subsequently slotted into P2 as the order continued to vary.
Crawford went again and this time made it stick, topping the session with a 1:39.545 on his next flying lap. Minì ended the session in P2, with Lindblad following in P3.
Dürksen will be investigated after the session for failing to follow race director’s instructions, regarding crossing the wrong side of a bollard before heading to the pit lane.
F2 Abu Dhabi GP Free Practice Results
- J. Crawford (1:39.545)
- G. Minì
- A. Lindblad
- J. Dürksen
- O. Goethe
- V. Martins
- L. Fornaroli
- A. Dunne
- R. Miyata
- S. Montoya
- R. Stanek
- L. Browning
- R. Verschoor
- D. Beganovic
- N. Tsolov
- M. Stenshorne
- R. Villagomez
- L. van Hoepen
- J. Bennett
- K. Maini
- C. Shields
- T. Inthraphuvasak
