Another thrilling weekend of F2 action is complete, and the storyline of the 2025 season continues to sharpen. The iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza provided the perfect stage for drama, as the fight for the Championship grew fiercer. With Leonardo Fornaroli battling to hold off Luke Browning—fresh from his maiden victory—the battle at the top has become the defining narrative of the year. F2 CEO Bruno Michel offered his insights on the 2025 Italian GP weekend in Monza, giving detailed reflections on the title contenders, the standout performers, and the balance of power between the leading teams.
Fornaroli’s resilience in front of home fans
At Monza, the atmosphere was charged with expectation. The Italian fans arrived hoping to see one of their own excel at the legendary circuit. Leonardo Fornaroli entered the weekend with the weight of Championship leadership on his shoulders and the pressure of competing on home soil. Despite a difficult qualifying session, which threatened to derail his momentum, he regrouped and found a way to rise to the occasion during the Sprint Race.
“Monza was a really strong weekend with some great winners who are now in the top two positions in the Championship. Leonardo Fornatoli had quite a difficult Qualifying session, but he recovered so well in the Sprint and won the race. He’s the first Italian driver to win a race at this level in Monza for a very long time. That’s great for the Italian fans.”
Browning breaks through at last
While Fornaroli had the support of the home crowd, another driver seized his moment in the spotlight. Luke Browning had shown promise throughout the season, delivering consistency and speed but lacking the final breakthrough. In Monza, he finally found the missing piece, converting a strong qualifying result into victory. His performance marked the culmination of months of steady progression and patience, and it placed him firmly in the Championship conversation.
“Meanwhile, Luke Browning had a very strong performance and secured his first victory in F2 from pole position, something he had been chasing after since the start the season. He had been one of the most, if not the most consistent driver on the grid at the beginning of the year, so it was obvious his maiden and pole position were going to happen. We know he is a very strong driver, so it was only a matter of time before it happened. He’s now second in the championship, 21 points behind Fornaroli. We have three rounds left in 2025, so I know we’re going to have a great end of the Championship between them.”
Experience still in the mix
The newcomers like Fornaroli and Browning have proven themselves as strong contenders for the 2025 F2 Championship title, the field is filled with experienced challengers capable of influencing the outcome. Richard Verschoor and Jak Crawford have both been present near the sharp end across the season, using their knowledge of F2’s demands to stay in touch with the leaders. Monza once again underlined how quickly fortunes can change, and how multiple drivers remain mathematically and competitively relevant as the series approaches its conclusion.
“Looking at the Drivers’ Standings, behind the leading pair, there are more experienced drivers in Richard Verschoor and Jak Crawford, who remain within catching distance, so between the four of them, the battle for the title will be very interesting, I believe.”
A driver on the rise
Among the names making headlines at Monza, one stood out for his consistency across the weekend. Joshua Duerksen continued his development with AIX Racing, producing two strong drives that caught the attention of both fans and paddock insiders. Already showing flashes of promise in previous rounds, Monza became the setting where he confirmed his ability to compete at the front.
Reflection on the Paraguayan’s performance, Michel said, “Joshua Duerksen is another very strong driver. He made a great impression already last season, and in 2025 he showed that he knows how to fight at the front. This weekend, he displayed two mature drives to feature on the podium twice, which is not an easy thing to do.”
Monza success a major achievement
F2 has always tested young drivers with its balance of performance, unpredictable strategies, and unforgiving schedule. Consistency is rare, and maintaining momentum across back-to-back events is one of the greatest challenges. For Duerksen, Monza represented one of those weekends where everything aligned, providing him the chance to demonstrate maturity and racecraft.
“F2 is a very difficult Championship, sometimes everything goes well and other times, you have to overcome challenges. You can ask any driver on the grid, they’ve had weekends on and weekends off the mark. Monza was on for Joshua.”
Standing on the podium in F2 is never a simple task. Achieving it twice in one weekend places a driver in elite company. Duerksen’s results not only rewarded his persistence but also showcased the progress of his team, AIX Racing. With growing competitiveness in a tightly packed grid, their double podium represented a standout story in Monza.
“Being on the podium twice in one weekend is a major achievement, and I think he and AIX Racing deserve it. It’s a fantastic result for them and we’re happy to see it.”
Invicta Racing on top but a three-team fight looms
Invicta Racing have established themselves as the standard setters of 2025, consistently scoring at the front and holding both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship leads. Their strength lies not only in the speed of their cars but also in the consistency of their driver pairing. Monza, however, reminded everyone that competition remains fierce, with other teams responding strongly to Invicta’s dominance.
Michel said, “Invicta have had quite a few successful and impressive couple of rounds taking the lead in both the Drivers and Teams Standings. Both of their drivers are quick, skilled and consistent, so we can fully expect Invicta to fight at the front in all remaining rounds but in Monza, several other teams have hit back. For instance, Hitech TGR have scored more points than the leading team, and they are not too far off now after Luke’s pole and victory, while Campos Racing stay in the title race, with both of their drivers standing on the podium in Italy.”
However, although Invicta Racing retain the advantage, the Championship picture remains open. With Hitech TGR and Campos Racing both scoring heavily at Monza, the contest for team supremacy has grown more competitive. F2 CEO Bruno Michel believes that the closing rounds of the 2025 season appear set to host a battle between three squads determined to prove themselves as the year’s most complete outfit, with the Monza Round at the 2025 Italian GP only tightening competition between the teams
“It’s probably going to be a three-team battle until the end of the season. Invicta has the edge at the moment but it’s going to be really interesting to see how this fight evolves.”
Adaptation to the current car
F2 introduced its latest car in 2024, and the second year of its cycle has revealed which teams have mastered its intricacies. Monza highlighted that the frontrunners not only deliver on speed but also on their ability to extract performance week after week. Success requires more than just engineering skill—it reflects preparation, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of marginal gains.
“It’s not always the same teams on top each weekend, and it’s good to see different teams fighting for the top positions. But more globally, it seems these teams have adapted best to the new car with it being the second year of the current car, so it’s a credit to their hard work.”
Looking ahead to Baku and beyond
The 2025 F2 campaign now enters its decisive stretch. Baku’s high-speed streets and unforgiving walls present one of the greatest challenges on the calendar. After that, the Middle East double-header will demand both endurance and precision to conclude the season. Every team and driver faces the same test: to deliver under pressure as the Championship hangs in the balance.
“We have three rounds to go with Baku coming up and then visiting the Middle East at the end of the season, and we can’t wait to see what happens,” Michel concluded.
