In his rookie Formula 2 campaign, Max Esterson has endured a challenging first half of the 2025 season. After making a handful of appearances in 2024, the American stepped into the 2025 championship, aiming to fight for the championship. However, results so far have painted a difficult picture, with Esterson sitting 22nd in the standings and yet to score a point.
Round 1: Australia
Esterson’s full-time F2 debut began at Albert Park. Qualifying 22nd, he struggled for pace throughout the weekend. In the Sprint Race, he spun and beached his car in the gravel. Resulting in an early DNF for the TRIDENT driver. However, Esterson was unable to make up for this as the feature race was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
Round 2: Bahrain
Following in-season testing in Bahrain, TRIDENT and Esterson looked competitive. Posting times close to those at the front. However, the race weekend at Sakhir continued the rocky start for Esterson. The American qualified 17th, and the sprint race looked promising until he pitted under the safety car. The TRIDENT driver experienced technical issues that required assistance to restart his car. Later in the race, he went off-track and retired once again. In Sunday’s Feature Race, he finished 21st, sliding backwards throughout the race despite a relatively clean drive.
Round 3: Jeddah
On the high-speed streets of Jeddah, Esterson found marginal improvement; however, he still struggled for pace behind the front runners. Qualifying 19th, he maintained that position in the Sprint Race and managed to finish 18th in the Feature Race. Solidifying one of his better finishing results in 2025, though still well outside the points.
Round 4: Imola
In the return to the European circuits, Esterson showed a slightly better qualifying pace, managing to put his TRIDENT P18. He improved one position to P17 in the Sprint Race and finished 19th in the Feature, continuing a trend of consistency in 2025.
Round 5: Monaco
On one of the calendar’s most challenging circuits, Esterson qualified 17th, and in the Sprint Race due to multiple retirements ahead of him, he finished just short of the points in 13th. The Feature Race, however, ended in disaster for many drivers, including the American. Esterson was caught up in a multi-car collision initiated by contact between Victor Martins and Alex Dunne. He was among several drivers who were taken out as a result, constituting yet another DNF.
Round 6: Barcelona
The most recent performance in Barcelona showed promising signs for Esterson. He qualified in his best starting position in 16th. However, he dropped to 19th in the Sprint Race. In the Feature Race, he managed a clean and composed drive to finish 14th. While still outside the points, this marked his highest Feature Race finish of the season and a small step in the right direction.
A tough rookie campaign for Esterson
Esterson’s 2025 season has been categorised by DNFs, technical issues, and rookie mistakes. However, the American has shown glimpses of strategic and smart race craft, particularly in Jeddah and Barcelona. But with the lack of points finishes, the first half of the year has been forgettable.
However, it’s worth noting that Esterson’s struggles are not entirely isolated. His fellow rookie teammate, Sami Meguetounif, has also found it tough in the TRIDENT. The Frenchman has only managed to score a single point so far this season. This showcased the general lack of pace in the Trident in comparison to the front-running teams.
For Max Esterson, the best path for the rest of the season is to capitalise on the chaos that usually ensues in Formula 2. By keeping consistent performances and managing to steer clear of drama, the American will be able to score his first championship points. With several rounds still to go, there are still ample opportunities for Esterson to improve on the first half of the season.
With the American team of Cadillac entering F1 in 2026, the American driver will be eager to turn around his challenging rookie year. Proving to motorsport fans and teams of his talent in the sport.
