As the 2024 Formula 2 season reaches its finale in Abu Dhabi, championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto finds himself in an astonishing battle with contender Isack Hadjar. With just half a point separating the two, the stakes couldn’t be higher for this final round, making it arguably the closest title fight in the history of Formula 2.
Last weekend’s races in Qatar set the stage for this nail-biting finale. Bortoleto’s position at the top of the standings is largely thanks to a half-point earned in a dramatic Monza Sprint Race, where he finished in a dead heat with Dennis Hauger. This season has seen Bortoleto evolve from a slow start to a consistent title contender, capturing two Feature Race victories since Round 4.
Bortoleto is “ready to fight” for F2 title
Speaking to the media, Bortoleto addressed the intense rivalry with Hadjar, especially given that he has already secured his Formula 1 seat for the next season. When asked by the media about his willingness to take risks in battle, he stated, “I’m ready to fight as hard as I need to. There is no limit. Whatever game he wants to play, I’m ready to do that.” He emphasised that his approach would remain unchanged, regardless of his F1 contract, saying, “I don’t care if I had or not my seat. My approach would have been the same, to be honest.”
Reflecting on the difference between last year’s title fight in Formula 3 and this year’s more precarious situation, Bortoleto shared, “Last year was very different. We had a lot of margin on points compared to P2 coming into the last round.”
“This year is a little bit different. We lost some points in the last round [in Qatar]. It’s my first time ever fighting for a title this closely because in F3 it wasn’t like this. It was more about managing points. Here, it’s all about performing, winning races when we can and giving everything we have.”
Bortoleto’s journey has been marked by resilience, particularly highlighted by his remarkable comeback victory at Monza, where he became the first driver in F2 history to win a race after starting from last on the grid. His consistency has been impressive, with only one finish outside the top 10 since Imola, while Hadjar has also shown his mettle, capturing four wins throughout the season.
The junior series is “like a family”
Speaking to Pit Debrief, Bortoleto expressed mixed emotions about his final race in Formula 2. “My mind is, as I said before, the same. It doesn’t change anything,” he remarked.
“Obviously, I’m going to miss the environment of Formula 2 and Formula 3, because it’s a junior series. It is less people working. It’s like a family thing, especially the teams I’ve been part of in F3 and F2 and in Invicta. It’s like a family.”
He acknowledged the challenges ahead in Formula 1, saying, “In F1, it’s a little bit more complicated.”
“There are so many people working for two cars, and a lot of them don’t know each other. The thing is, I will miss a little bit the environment of knowing everyone I work with, because that’s the way I like to do my things.”
Bortoleto has a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in F2. “They’ve never won a drivers’ championship before. For me, it would be very special if I can gift them with that before I leave F2,” he concluded.
As the Yas Marina Circuit awaits, all eyes will be on Bortoleto and Hadjar in what promises to be an exciting finale. The qualifying session already proved to be heated with Frenchman Victor Martins taking home pole position, along with the two extra points, that could have benefited Hadjar and Bortoleto. With the title on the line and emotions running high, the question remains: who will emerge as the 2024 Formula 2 Champion?
