FIA Formula 2 Melbourne Preview: Making history in Australia - where to watch 30.03.2023: FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP Albert Park, Melbourne 31 March - April 2nd 2023 After an exhilarating second race weekend of the season, the action continues as FIA Formula 2 heads to Melbourne, Australia for its debut in the Southe

FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
Albert Park, Melbourne
31 March - April 2nd 2023




After an exhilarating second race weekend of the season, the action continues as FIA Formula 2 heads to Melbourne, Australia for its debut in the Southern Hemisphere. The Albert Park circuit will be a brand new venue for all of the drivers on the grid, including home hero Jack Doohan, who will be racing a car for the first time on home soil.



Will home comforts help the Aussie onto his first victory of the 2023 campaign? Or will someone else win big down under? Here is all you need to know ahead of Round 3 of the FIA F2 season.





THE FORM BOOK



Four races in and four different drivers have already taken their spots on the top step of the podium, with Ayumu Iwasa and Frederik Vesti winning the Jeddah Sprint and Feature Races respectively.



Up at the top in the Drivers’ Championship, Ralph Boschung leads the way, using his experience to spearhead Campos Racing in the early phase of the campaign, even if the Swiss driver couldn’t add to his tally in the Feature Race in Jeddah.


Along with teammate and rookie Kush Maini, the Spanish outfit continued their strong opening to ’23, and still leads the way in the Teams’ Standings on 51 points.




A promising weekend for ART Grand Prix ended on an ultimately disappointing note. The French team has looked quick from the first session of the year but despite two very impressive Qualifying performances and pole positions, one apiece for Théo Pourchaire and Victor Martins, the team has just one win so far.



For Pourchaire, Jeddah was a nightmare weekend with a crash in the Sprint and no points in the Feature. Martins was fighting for the win but a spin mid-way through put him out of the running. Melbourne is a chance for the team that’s second in the Standings to bounce back. They trail Campos by just two points, with 49 on the board.



WHERE TO WATCH





THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS




For Iwasa, another two points-scoring finishes in Jeddah means he is the only driver on the grid with a perfect record still intact this year. His Sprint win lifted him and his DAMS team to third in the Drivers’ and Teams’ Standings, with the French squad closing to within seven points of the leaders.



Arthur Leclerc continued his steady start to F2 life as well, scoring more points in Jeddah. The Monégasque looks capable of more in Melbourne too.




Defending Champions MP Motorsport looked strong again in Jeddah, with Jehan Daruvala grabbing two P3 finishes. Teammate Dennis Hauger started outside of the top 10 but didn’t let that stop him from scoring twice to grab more vital points for the team. It was enough to lift the Dutch outfit to fourth on 43 points, one point behind DAMS and well in range of leaders Campos.



After leaving Sakhir last in the Standings, PREMA Racing bounced back in style and showed great speed with both Vesti and teammate Oliver Bearman. While the Brit faded in the Feature Race, he looks quick already this year. If he can get on top of the Pirelli tyres, he could be a force sooner rather than later.



Vesti’s Sunday win lifted him to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. The Italian outfit now sits P5 in the Teams’ Standings and will be aiming to build on their growing momentum.




- Alexa Quintin, photos Getty Images, Formula Motorsport Limited