Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri have all enjoyed success in Formula 1 since winning the Formula 2 championship. Between them, they’ve amassed 12 Grand Prix victories and 64 podiums since Leclerc’s ascension in 2018.
Mick Schumacher also made it to F1 on the back of an F2 triumph, but he couldn’t live up to the hype. He lasted just two years at Haas and, after missing out on a comeback for a third year in a row, he may now have given up on his dream.
2019 champion Nyck de Vries had to wait until 2022 for his F1 chance when Alex Albon was struck down by appendicitis before the Italian GP. De Vries’ impressive showing at Monza earned him an AlphaTauri seat for the following season, but he struggled so much that Red Bull dropped him midway through the year.
This year, Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar are going head-to-head for the title ahead of the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Bortoleto has already secured a multi-year deal to race for Sauber/Audi, while Hadjar will be hopeful of an RB seat if Liam Lawson replaces Sergio Perez.
| YEAR | CHAMPION | ACADEMY |
| 2017 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2018 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2019 | Nyck de Vries | McLaren |
| 2020 | Mick Schumacher | Ferrari |
| 2021 | Oscar Piastri | Alpine |
| 2022 | Felipe Drugovich | Aston Martin |
| 2023 | Theo Pourchaire | Sauber |
But not every F2 champion has reached F1. In fact, Sauber overlooked last year’s victor Theo Pourchaire even though he’s part of their driver academy (Bortoleto was on the books of McLaren).
And a year earlier, Felipe Drugovich was snubbed despite seeing off Pourchaire, Lawson and Logan Sargeant. Drugovich is contracted to Aston Martin, where there’s been little doubt over the continuity of the driver line-up.
Felipe Drugovich hoped for F1 debut in Brazil after message from unwell Fernando Alonso
Drugovich hoped he’d have an opportunity to race at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix after Lance Stroll fractured both wrists in a pre-season cycling accident. Of course, he wouldn’t have wanted a debut to come about in such circumstances, but that’s what reserve drivers are for.
In the end, Stroll was remarkably passed fit to race, but Drugovich began to prepare himself once again in the short gap between the Mexico City and Sao Paulo Grands Prix. Fernando Alonso had missed media day in Mexico as he battled an intestinal infection.
Alonso then returned to Europe for treatment, delaying his arrival in Brazil. Drugovich was hoping for a dream debut in front of his home fans.
But his intense excitement eventually came to nothing as Alonso made a suitable recovery. Speaking to Flow, he admits he may have gotten carried away.
Drugovich said: “I left the Mexican GP with something that Alonso told me, he said to me ‘if I were you I would stay prepared’. Now imagine, I was leaving Mexico on a flight to Brazil, and the guy just told me that, and I said ‘wow, I’m going to make my F1 debut in Brazil’. I wanted to get out through the roof of the plane, I couldn’t sleep, I said ‘now go, now go’.
“He arrived on Thursday, so it didn’t work out, but it was something like that, and I spent the whole week thinking about it. He just wanted to help me, he said it without any intention, he said ‘I’m in a bad way, and if I were you, I would be prepared’.
“But, in my head, what I heard was something completely different. If I’m going to race in Brazil, I’m going to debut in Brazil, that’s it, my life has changed and that’s it.”
F1 fans have made it clear they want Felipe Drugovich to replace Lance Stroll at Aston Martin
Drugovich was a contender for the Sauber drive, but his compatriot Bortoleto prevailed in the end. The former’s stock has fallen since his F2 success, through no fault of his own.
He’s taken part in five FP1 sessions and competed in the European Le Mans series this year. But perhaps he needed an opportunity in Bahrain last year to truly advertise his talents.
Indeed, De Vries’ F1 chance came about because of an excellent cameo. And Oliver Bearman may not have made it had he not dazzled for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia when Carlos Sainz was unwell.
Brazilian fans chanted Drugovich’s name when Stroll rather embarrassingly beached his car on the formation lap at Interlagos. They clearly feel he’s more deserving of the seat, but Stroll’s place is protected by his billionaire father, who owns the team.
