The second day of testing of F2 pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya witnessed intense on-track action. PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Mini set the tone in the morning, while MP Motorsport’s Oliver Goethe took charge in the afternoon session.
What we’ve learned from Day 2 of F2 pre-season testing
Day 2 of F2 pre-season testing was marked by frequent changes at the top of the timesheets, red flag interruptions and teams focusing on both performance runs and data collection.
F2 Pre-Season Testing Day 2 Morning Session: Mini Sets the Early Pace
The morning session kicked off with DAMS’ Jak Crawford quickly establishing the first benchmark, posting a 1:27.733 lap. However, Hitech GP’s Dino Beganovic soon took over the top spot with a 1:27.426.
Other drivers such as Rodin Motorsport’s Christian Mansell and Luke Browning followed closely, but it was MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor who briefly emerged as a leader with a 1:26.809.
At the 22-minute mark, a red flag was waved after Trident’s Max Esterson spun at Turn 1. Once the session resumed, Mini displayed impressive pace, setting a 1:25.306 lap, 0.621s ahead of the next fastest, Crawford.
As more drivers set timed laps, the competition heated up. Mini’s teammate Sebastian Montoya and Trident’s Sami Meguetounif surged toward the top, but it was Mini who maintained the lead until the end of the session.
In the final stages, multiple drivers made improvements, but Mini’s time of 1:23.660 stood firm, giving him the top spot at the conclusion of the morning session. ART Grand Prix’s Ritomo Miyata finishes second, closely followed by Browning and Martins, each of whom was within 0.301s of the leader.
The session saw a few red flags, including stoppages caused by Esterson, Lindblad and Fornaroli. The final red flag was triggered by John Bennett, leading to an early conclusion.
Morning Session Standings
The top ten times from the morning session were as follows:
1. Gabriele Minì (Prema Racing) – 1:23.660
2. Ritomo Miyata (ART Grand Prix) – 1:23.730
3. Luke Browning (Hitech TGR) – 1:23.870
4. Victor Martins (Art Grand Prix) – 1:23.961
5. Joshua Duerksen (AIX Racing) – 1:23.971
6. Arvid Lindblad (Campos Racing) – 1:24.021
7. Alexander Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) – 1:24.079
8. Josep Maria Martí (Campos Racing) – 1:24.170
9. Sebastián Montoya (Prema Racing) – 1:24.427
10. Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) – 1:24.470
DAY 2 AM TOP-10 🏁
Mini
Miyata 📸
Browning
Martins
Duerksen
Lindblad
Dunne
Marti
Montoya
Verschoor #F2 #F2Testing pic.twitter.com/pqMVs7ET40— Formula 2 (@Formula2) February 25, 2025
F2 Pre-Season Testing Day 2 Afternoon Session: Goethe Sets the Pace
The afternoon session commenced with Goethe immediately establishing a formidable benchmark, clocking a 1:24.372 lap within the first seven minutes. This time remained unbeaten throughout the session, underscoring MP Motorsport’s strong performance.
Teammate Richard Verschoor trailed closely, initially just 0.13 seconds behind, highlighting the team’s competitive edge.
Trident’s Max Esterson and Sami Meguetounif, along with Hitech GP’s Dino Beganovic were early contenders, occupying top positions in the initial phase. Beganovic demonstrated consistent improvement, eventually securing the second-fastest time with a 1:24.424, a mere 0.052 seconds shy of Goethe’s leading lap.
As the session progressed, drivers like Roman Stanek (Invicta Racing) and Rafael Villagomez (Van Amersfoort Racing) made significant strides. Stanek recorded a 1:24.655, placing him fourth, while Villagomez’s persistent efforts culminated in a 1:24.749, earning him fifth on the timesheets.
The session was not without interruptions; a red flag was deployed when Meguetounif’s car halted on the pit straight, necessitating a brief pause.
Afternoon Session Standings
The top ten times from the afternoon session were as follows:
1. Oliver Goethe (MP Motorsport) – 1:24.372
2. Dino Beganovic (Hitech TGR) – 1:24.424
3. Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) – 1:24.502
4. Roman Stanek (Invicta Racing) – 1:24.655
5. Rafael Villagomez (Van Amersfoort Racing) – 1:24.749
6. Sami Meguetounif (Trident) – 1:25.131
7. Max Esterson (Trident) – 1:25.251
8. Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta Racing) – 1:25.342
9. Christian Mansell (Rodin Motorsport) – 1:26.042
10. Luke Browning (Hitech TGR) – 1:26.129
DAY 2 PM TOP-10 🏁
Goethe 📸
Beganovic
Verschoor
Stanek
Villagomez
Meguetounif
Esterson
Fornaroli
Mansell
Browning#F2 #F2Testing pic.twitter.com/p2T4rohc4M— Formula 2 (@Formula2) February 25, 2025
With pre-season testing continuing. teams will focus on fine-tuning their cars and strategies. The close timesheets suggest that the 2025 F2 season will be tightly contested, with multiple teams and drivers in contention for the top spots.
The final day of testing will further reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each team as they prepare for the season opener.
Main Photo
Credit: Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Published: February 25, 2025
