Campos Racing’s Josep Maria “Pepe” Martí enjoyed a strong start to his debut Formula 2 season. He earned two podium finishes in the opening round of the 2024 F2 season in Bahrain, finishing the sprint race P3 and the feature race P2, despite starting P11. The F2 rookie delivered strong performances in both races. Despite facing numerous disruptions, he stayed composed and kept his car on track, even as more experienced drivers struggled. This was an impressive showing from the then-18-year-old, a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, and a promising start to his F2 career.
Marti’s season took downward turn in Jeddah
However, Martí’s luck did not last. Though he claimed points in the sprint race in Jeddah, his season took a downward turn when a collision in the opening lap of the race forced his first early retirement for the season. This would have been a disappointment for the Spaniard, who, despite starting P10 had shown his potential to make his way up the ranks. Martí, had, after all, only a day earlier made his way up to P7, despite starting from the same position.
He would again retire from the sprint race in Melbourne. Despite a promising start to the 2024 Melbourn F2 round which saw him set the seventh-fastest time in qualifying, Martí struggled throughout the weekend. At the start of the sprint race, he suffered a collision with Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto. Both Martí and Bortoleto were unable to continue, and the stewards handed Martí’s Campos Racing teammate, Isack Hadjar a 10-second penalty for causing the collision.
Though Martí was able to finish the feature race, he struggled significantly throughout and was able to keep hold or improve on his P7 starting position. Instead, he dropped down the ranks, ultimately crossing the line P14, more than 34.5 seconds behind his teammate Hadjar, the race winner. After MP Motorsport’s Franco Colapinto was disqualified after failing to engage the race start set-up procedure, Martí was promoted to P13.
Martí returned to the points in Spain
The Spaniard driver would not add to his points tally until Spain. Martí’s home race weekend got off to a less-than-ideal start in Catalonia when he qualified P14. Though he started the next day’s sprint race from P13, after AIX Racing’s Joshua Dürksen was relegated to P14 due to a 10-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Rodin Motorsport’s Zane Maloney during the Monaco feature race, he was unable to make his way past his rivals. Though several drivers would drop positions due to post-race time penalties, Marti was unable to earn points. He was classified 11th.
The feature race, however, was kinder to the Campos Racing driver. Despite starting P14, he put in a strong, level-headed performance, and earned himself a P9 finishing position. This earned him his first two points since Jeddah. Martí earned an additional point for the fastest lap set by a driver finishing in the top 10.
Martí suffered mixed fortunes in Belgium
Just one week later, he stood on the podium for the third time of his F2 career despite suffering a broken front wing in first lap of the race after making contact with Invicta Racing’s Kush Maini. Unfortunately, he would not be able to replicate this success in the feature race. Although he crossed the line in fourth, he dropped to 15th place after receiving a post-race ten-second stop-and-go penalty for pitting during a Virtual Safety Car period.
Martí had been advised to pit before the Safety Car was deployed. However, he had been just two meters away from crossing the Safety Car line when the VSC came into effect. Since the stop-and-go penalty was applied post-race, preventing him from serving it, a 30-second time penalty was applied instead.
He suffered further disappointment at Silverstone after collision damage on Lap 7 saw him forced into another early retirement. Fortunately, though he would start the feature race P18, he put in a steady drive and made his way up to P10, adding another point to his championship tally. This, however, was the last point that he would score until the sprint race in Monza. He failed to finish in the points in Hungary and retired on the first lap of both races of the 2024 Spa-Francorchamps Formula 2 round.
Unfortunately, though he managed a P4 finish in the sprint race in Monza, he suffered another dip in performance, which kept him out of the points until the final round of the 2024 season.
Marti took first F2 win in Abu Dhabi
Despite the many ups and downs of his 2024 season, Marti ended 2024 on a note almost as strong as that which he had started on. The Spaniard finished the 2024 Yas Island F2 round qualifying session with the seventh fastest time, earning himself a start from P4 under reverse-grid conditions. He capitalised on his start from the second round, claiming and keeping the lead of the race with an inspired performance. This saw him cross the line first, just under 2.3 seconds ahead of season victor Bortoleto. As he set the fastest time of the drivers finishing in a points-scoring position, he earned an extra point.
Marti added another eight points to his championship tally after crossing the line P6 in the final feature race of the season. This saw him end the 2024 season 14th in the championship with 62 points.
Marti to continue with Campos Racing for 2025
Despite the strong start and end to his season, Marti’s first year in 2024 was challenging, though not without lofty highs. These highs have proven that the young driver has immense potential behind the wheel.
His team, it seems, also believes in his potential. In December 2024, after an impressive rookie season, Campos Racing confirmed that the Spanish driver would continue with them for 2025. He will team up with fellow Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad who will replace Isack Hadjar.
Speaking on the team’s decision to continue with Marti in 2025, team principal, Adrián Campos stated that the Spanish driver was “like family” to the team and noted the understanding that had developed between team and driver during their years-long association.
“I am happy that Pepe and Campos Racing can continue working together for the fifth consecutive year. He is like family to us, and we understand each other perfectly as he is fully integrated into the team.”
“It has been a fairly positive first year in FIA Formula 2, with four podiums, including a victory in Abu Dhabi, which should serve as the ultimate motivation for 2025.”
He added that the team aimed to “achieve great things” with their young talent in 2025.
“We will have two young drivers, Pepe and Arvid, with whom we aim to achieve great things once again.”
