Oliver Goethe unexpectedly began his Formula 2 journey when he replaced Franco Colapinto at MP Motorsport for the Monza round. Originally set to compete in Formula 3 with Campos Racing as a title contender, the Red Bull Junior driver instead made his F2 debut at the high-speed Italian circuit.
A sudden step up in Monza
Despite never having raced in an F2 car before the weekend, Goethe embraced the challenge, acknowledging the steep learning curve ahead. “It was very unexpected, a very late call,” he admitted. “My goal is to do F2 next year, so it gives me that slight upper hand compared to other rookies having driven the car now this season.”
With no prior simulator experience in the F2 machinery and limited preparation time, his focus at Monza was on adaptation rather than results. Although he didn’t break into the points, he gained valuable experience that would benefit him in the rounds to come.
Baku Sprint Race: a costly mistake
As Goethe continued his learning process in the series, his aggressive racing style led to a notable incident during the Sprint Race in Baku. Battling with Amaury Cordeel at Turn 5, Goethe made contact with the Hitech Pulse-Eight driver, leading to a post-race investigation by the stewards.
While Goethe was not deemed wholly responsible, the stewards ruled him predominantly at fault, handing him a five-second time penalty. This penalty, however, did not affect his final classification, as he remained in 21st place.
The incident highlighted the margins of racing in Formula 2, where Goethe’s inexperience showed in wheel-to-wheel combat. Nevertheless, these moments are crucial learning experiences for any rookie adapting to the category’s unique challenges.
A breakthrough for Goethe in Lusail
The high point of Goethe’s season came in Lusail, where he delivered his strongest race yet, finishing fourth in the Feature Race after an intense afternoon of racing.
Starting eighth, he initially struggled off the line, dropping positions early on. However, an extended first stint and a well-timed Safety Car allowed him to recover. From there, Goethe showed impressive race craft, battling established frontrunners like Gabriel Bortoleto, Paul Aron, and Isack Hadjar.
“It was a hectic race, a lot of overtaking and defending, all very chaotic,” he said. “But I’m really happy with the pace and with the team, the progress we’ve made, and I’m looking forward to Abu Dhabi.”
One of the most defining moments of his race came during a three-way battle with Dino Beganovic and Luke Browning. As Browning defended aggressively on worn tyres, Goethe capitalised on an intense fight between his two rivals, pulling off a brilliant cutback move through Lusail’s fast triple-right corners.
“It was a bit of a sketchy move, but I couldn’t let that happen. I was able to pull it off in the end and it helped me catch the guys ahead later on.”
His P4 finish was a key step in his F2 adaptation, showing his potential to fight at the front.
Goethe’s evaluations and prospects
Goethe’s 2024 Formula 2 campaign was short but full of valuable lessons. Joining mid-season with little preparation, he had to learn the car while competing against more experienced rivals.
His Monza debut and Baku penalty illustrated the difficulties of adapting to the category, but his drive in Lusail showed his raw pace and ability to fight at the sharp end. While his race starts remain a weakness, his race craft and tyre management have improved significantly.
Looking ahead, Goethe remains focused on continuing in Formula 2 for a full 2025 season, aiming to build on the progress made this year. “I still feel very new to the car. I did two rounds before this in Monza and Baku, but I missed out on two races anyway because of crashes at the start, so the car still feels new to me.”
With the confidence gained from his strong Lusail result, he hoped to end the season on a high in Abu Dhabi. He said, “It would be amazing to finish off the season with at least one podium as a rookie. That’s the goal, but at the end of the day, I just want to learn as much as possible.”
If he can continue this upward trajectory into 2025, Goethe has the potential to establish himself as a serious contender in Formula 2.
