2019 Formula 2 Champion Nyck De Vries is the latest driver to graduate to F1. A look at the five best F2 (GP2) Champions on the current grid.
On Saturday it was announced that 2019 Formula 2 Champion Nyck De Vries will become the latest graduate to enter Formula 1 as he joins Alpha Tauri for 2023. Similar to Formula 3, Formula 2 is a feeder series where twenty-six young drivers compete for enough Super Licence points and the chance to showcase their talent to earn them a seat in Formula 1. De Vries and Oscar Piastri are both the latest Formula 2 champions, with Piastri winning it in 2021, and joining McLaren next year. Here are the five best Formula 2 (GP2) Champions currently in F1:
1. Charles Leclerc – 2017 Formula 2 Champion (282 points)
Having won the GP3 title a year before, the then 19-year-old Charles Leclerc became a quick favorite after taking a win and two podiums during the opening round in Bahrain. Racing for PREMA, as he did in GP3, Leclerc had a dominant campaign over his nearest rival Artem Markelov. Despite winning by seventy-two points, taking seven victories and ten podiums, it wasn’t smooth sailing for the young Monegasques driver. He tragically lost his father, Herve, the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He would go on to win the Feature Race and dedicate it to his father.
Leclerc made history by becoming the first driver to achieve seven consecutive pole positions. After winning the F2 championship, Alfa Romeo announced Leclerc would be racing for them for the 2018 Formula 1 season. A year later Leclerc made the step up to Ferrari, replacing veteran Kimi Raikkonen.
2. George Russell – 2018 Formula 2 Champion (287 points)
Similar to Leclerc, George Russell won the GP3 title a year before and would go on to the race for the same team that gave him victory – ART Grand Prix. Russell competed in a tough campaign where he raced alongside fellow Brits and future Formula 1 stars Lando Norris and Alexander Albon. Taking seven victories and eleven podiums, Russell won by sixty-eight points over Norris.
Despite Norris and Albon finishing second and third in the championship respectively, both ended up joining Russell in Formula 1 the next year. Russell drove for Williams, Norris for McLaren, and Albon for Toro Rosso (Alpha Tauri). For three years at Williams, he consistently outperformed both his car and teammate. In 2022, Russell joined Mercedes teaming up alongside the legendary Sir Lewis Hamilton.
This man knows a thing or two about winning 😏@GeorgeRussell63 took seven victories in F2, the joint-most in a single season 🏆#F2 #RoadToF1 @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/rlFPzu0zVP
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 7, 2021
3. Lewis Hamilton – 2006 GP2 Champion (114 points)
After a dominant GP3 championship, Lewis Hamilton switched to ART Grand Prix for his GP2 campaign. Taking a podium in the opening round in Spain, Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr, found themselves in a league of their own as the only two drivers to earn over a hundred points. Finishing the season with five victories and fourteen podiums, Hamilton was crowned champion by just twelve points over Piquet Jr.
During his GP2 season, Hamilton earned himself high praise from both spectators and fans as he completed an impressive recovery drive. Having started on the front row for the Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton was hit and spun. But he would climb his way back from P18 to P2. A drive that most likely secured his Formula 1 seat for the 2007 season driving for McLaren alongside two-time champion Fernando Alonso. We know how that season ended.
4. Mick Schumacher – 2020 Formula 2 Champion (215 points)
Entering his second consecutive season of Formula 2, the pressure was on for the German after finishing twelfth the previous year. Racing once again for PREMA, Mick Schumacher struggled for the first two rounds before earning a double podium during the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite only taking two victories and ten podiums, Schumacher outscored his primary rival Callum Ilott and managed to secure the championship by 14 points.
After winning the championship, Schumacher earned himself a seat in Formula 1 at Haas.
🏆 MICK SCHUMACHER IS FORMULA 2 CHAMPION! 🏆#SakhirGP 🇧🇭 #F2 pic.twitter.com/TAms14hDFw
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) December 6, 2020
5. Pierre Gasly – 2016 GP2 Champion (219 points)
In his third season of GP2, Pierre Gasly switched to PREMA in 2016. Leaving the opening round in Barcelona with two podiums, compared to rival, teammate, and future F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi who retired in both races. Although Giovinazzi won more races that season, Gasly would score more podiums. He would go on to win the championship by just eight points.
Taking four wins and nine podiums, Gasly earned himself a part-time seat in Toro Rosso for the 2017 F1 season, replacing Daniil Kvyat for five races. The following year Gasly become a full-time driver alongside Brendon Hartley.
With De Vries now the latest graduate, how will he fare alongside Yuki Tsunoda in Alpha Tauri for the 2023 season? Current Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich will be making his FP1 F1 debut for Aston Martin in Abu Dhabi. Will he be the next champion to find his way to F1?
