After a disappointing sprint race which saw him out in Lap 18 after a collision with Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Amaury Cordeel, Joshua Dürksen claimed his maiden F2 feature race win at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP. The Paraguayan driver started the race P8 but took the net lead after a strong performance against the likes of Bortoleto and Martí and a good tyre strategy.
Despite pressure from MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor, Dürksen held on to his lead, ultimately crossing the finish line 1.791 seconds ahead of Bortoleto, who claimed the 2024 F2 championship title. This was the second win of Dürksen’s F2 career, and his first in a feature race. His maiden win came during the 2024 Azerbaijan GP after a strong performance in the sprint race.
First feature race victory “the best feeling” – Dürksen
While speaking with the media during the FIA Round 14 Post-Feature Race Press Conference, Dürksen was elated, describing his end-of-season victory as “the best feeling”.
“Yeah, I think it’s the best feeling to finish the season with victory, especially if it’s your first Feature Race victory.”
Dürksen stated that he was “extremely happy” to have achieved the much-desired win in Abu Dhabi, but admitted that it had been a shock to have finished P1, despite his and his team’s good performance.
“I was really desiring this win. But I’m just extremely happy.”
“The team did a great job. I was feeling connected with the car. The pace was good. I think I did some good overtakes, some good defending.”
“I didn’t really know what position I was, so I didn’t know until I saw the chequered flag, then my engineer told me I was P1 I just didn’t believe it.”
Dürksen commends team’s progress after disappointing 2023 season
Dürksen also praised the team for their improved performance during the 2024 season, including in Abu Dhabi.
“So big emotions and just really happy to see the progress we did from the beginning of the season to now.”
He recalled that the team, then PHM Racing had scored no points in 2023, and stated that the team deserved the win after their hard work to turn things around in 2024. AIX Racing scored 105 points in 2024 with five podiums — four of them Dürksen’s. They finished ninth of the 11 F2 teams.
“The team from last year — having zero points to now finish with four podiums in total, including two wins.”
“I think this is just a big improvement of the team and I think they deserve it even more than me this victory is because of all the hard work they did and by not giving up and always giving me a really good car, a really quick car and always improving and getting quicker and quicker and quicker.”
“It’s just the best feeling I can have to finish the season, to be honest.”
