F2 and F3 in action in Imola: talents of Red Bull and Ferrari in good shape

Besides Formula 1, Formula 2 and 3 will also be in action during the race weekend in Imola. After two weekends for F2 and one weekend for F3, there are already a few talents that have caught the eye. Read here when to turn on for the step-up classes this weekend and who to keep an eye on.

Red Bull is strongly represented in F2

Formula 2 and 3 are the last two classes leading up to Formula 1. They are not mandatory classes to drive in before you are allowed to enter the premier class of motor sport, but they are the two categories par excellence where you can show how good you are. The Red Bull, Alpine, Ferrari and Mercedes training teams house many of their talents here.

In F2, however, it is two talents who do not belong to a junior program who stole the show in the first two weekends. Felipe Drugovich is at the top of the standings after four races (two main races and two sprint races) with one victory behind his name. The 21-year-old Brazilian hopes to still force a spot in F1 and thus become the successor to Felipe Massa as the last Brazilian. Drugovich does not belong to a training team and is already active in F2 for the third year.

Age-mate Richard Verschoor has also started his second F2 season strongly. With a win in the first sprint race of the year and a second place in the second main race, he is third in the championship. The Dutchman was once part of Red Bull's junior team, but has had no ties to an F1 team since he was thrown out of it at the end of 2017.

Red Bull doesn't have anything to complain about in terms of talent, however, as in second place in the standings is Liam Lawson. The 20-year-old New Zealander won the second sprint race, but lost a lot of points due to his retirement in the second main race. Juri Vips, the number four in the standings, is also part of the Red Bull squad. The Estonian is 21 years old and has already started the season well with two podium finishes.

Besides these four talents, Theo Pourchaire (Sauber training talent), Logan Sargeant(Williams training) and Dennis Hauger (reigning F3 champion and Red Bull talent) are also interesting to watch. They did not start their 2022 campaign thunderously, but are keen on revenge in Imola.

Ferrari talents in F3

Formula 3 has only had one race weekend in Bahrain. The F2 drivers were also allowed to be in action in Saudi Arabia, but the F3 talents had to be patient a little longer after their first weekend in 2022.

Victor Martins is the number one driver in the championship and that should not come as a big surprise. The 20-year-old Frenchman already finished fifth in the F3 championship with one victory in 2021, earning a move to top team ART. A collision in the sprint race caused a retirement, but the Alpine Academy talent put things right with a dominant performance in the main race.

The number two in the standings is a brother of the leader in the Formula 1 championship. Arthur Leclerc started his season well with a fifth and a second place. He did have to make some repairs after a fourteenth place in qualifying, but in the races he is proving capable of actions just like his older brother. As part of the Ferrari training program, the young Monegasque, at 21 years old, now has to show it.

A surprising number three in the championship is 16-year-old Oliver Bearman. This Briton is also part of the Ferrari training program and thus much younger than the Monegasque. Bearman qualified eleventh during his first F3 weekend and drove to second place in a phenomenal sprint race. During the main race he finished sixth, so all eyes are now on the Prema driver.

Schedule for F2 and F3 in Imola

Friday

FP Formula 3: 08:55-09:40am

FP Formula 2: 10:05-10:50am

Qualification Formula 3: 2-2:30pm

Qualification Formula 2: 2:55-2:25pm

Saturday

Sprint race Formula 3: 09:35-10:20am

Sprint race Formula 2: 4:55-5:45pm

Sunday

Main Race Formula 3: 07:50-08:40am

Main Race Formula 2: 09:20-10:25am