F2 pre-season testing revealed some interesting key points to consider ahead of the first race of the 2025 season in almost two weeks.
What We’ve Learned from F2 Pre-Season Testing
Formula 2 wraps up pre-season testing in Barcelona after three intense days on track. This was the first chance to get a glimpse of what fans can expect from the drivers in the 2025 season.
Will Invicta Racing defend its team title? Will another rookie rise to the top, or will experience prevail?
These are just some of the questions that will shape the season ahead. But after three days of running, the lap times from Barcelona already offer some early insights.
PREMA Racing and Mini Looking Strong
At PREMA Racing, anticipation is high for the season ahead. The team hopes last year’s struggles are behind them and that 2025 will see them back in contention for both titles.
This year, PREMA field an exciting lineup with Gabriele Minì and Sebastian Montoya.
Minì, the 2024 Formula 3 runner-up, already got a taste of Formula 2 when he stepped in for Oliver Bearman in Baku. The Italian impressed with a podium finish in his first sprint race, showcasing his potential.
With prior experience in the car, Minì arrived at testing well-prepared and quickly made an impact. After a solid first day, he set the fastest time of the entire test – 1:23.660.
This performance has boosted confidence within PREMA and for Minì himself, who aims to fight at the front from the season opener in Australia.
Alongside him, Montoya is working to fine-tune his setup with the new car. The Colombian showed promise, securing his best result with a fourth-place finish on Day 1.
READ MORE: PREMA’s 2024 F2 Season: A Journey of Highs and Lows
ART Grand Prix Begins Recovery
PREMA aren’t the only team looking to turn things around after a disappointing 2024. ART Grand Prix are determined to make 2025 a fresh start, pairing a new mindset with the talent of its drivers – a combination that already showed promise in testing.
Victor Martins and Ritomo Miyata consistently placed in the Top 10 during the morning sessions. Their strongest result came on the final day when ART secured a 1-2 finish in the morning session on February 26.
In the afternoon, the French team shifted focus to long runs rather than outright pace. These early signs suggest ART Grand Prix are ready to fight their way back to the front of the field.
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Many Red Flags in F2 Pre-Season Testing
Pre-season testing is a chance for teams and drivers to push the limits, making mistakes a natural part of the process. However, red flags – while sometimes unavoidable – are always an unwelcome disruption. This year, Formula 2 testing saw 19 red flags.
These stoppages cut into valuable track time, limiting teams’ ability to test different setups and gather data for the season opener. While some incidents were caused by rookies, experienced drivers also struggled with trickier-than-expected track conditions in Barcelona.
The first and third days were particularly eventful. Day 3 saw nine red flags, with damp patches in certain areas of the track causing multiple drivers to lose control, especially at Turn 1 and Turn 3.
Keeping an Eye Out for the Rookies
In each of the three sessions, a rookie topped the timesheets. Arvid Lindblad set the fastest lap on Day 1 (1:24.415), followed by Gabriele Minì on Day 2 (1:23.660), and Sami Meguetounif on Day 3 (1:24.363).
This trend highlights how even the less experienced drivers are proving competitive, perhaps inspired by Gabriel Bortoleto’s rookie title win last season.
Beyond these three, Alexander Dunne also impressed in testing. The Irishman is eager to make up for a challenging Formula 3 season where he struggled to show his full potential.
Another standout was 2024 Formula 3 champion Leonardo Fornaroli. Like all rookies making the jump to Formula 2, he faces the challenge of managing tyres – especially during pit stops, which are new to him.
The Italian has been training extensively in this area, knowing that pit stops can be both a crucial advantage and a potential pitfall during races.
SOMETHING FOR YOU: Arvid Lindblad May Be the Next Red Bull Superstar
Looking Ahead to Australia
Despite multiple interruptions and changing track conditions, pre-season testing has provided valuable insights ahead of the season opener.
In Australia, drivers will have just one free practice session to adapt to the circuit and apply what they learned in Barcelona.
With the season stretching until early December in Abu Dhabi, there’s a long road ahead. However, testing has already shown a tightly matched field, with performance gaps looking minimal.
This sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting 2025 season.
READ NEXT: F1 Pre-Season Testing Day 2: Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton Top the Charts
Main Photo
Credit: Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Recording date: February 25, 2025
