Two Formula 2 talents were given their chance on the main stage in Formula 1 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – and they both took it in fine style.
It has become notoriously difficult for drivers in Formula 2 to make the step up to Formula 1, especially – rather bizarrely – for those that win the championship. Of the last five F2 champions, only Mick Schumacher made it to F1 the year after winning the title.
Nyck de Vries and Oscar Piastri eventually made it to the pinnacle of motorsport – albeit the former’s time in F1 was short-lived – while Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire, the two latest F2 champions, have stayed in their respective reserve driver roles and sought to compete in other categories.
The 2024 F1 season marked the first time in history that the driver line-up from the end of the previous year remained the same, with no rookies joining the field.
But things have very quickly changed as a couple of F2 drivers have been given opportunities to prove themselves in their bid to land a full-time seat.
Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel says the ‘pyramid is working’ after Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto’s Baku performances
Last time out in Baku, Oliver Bearman was called up to replace the suspended Kevin Magnussen at Haas in what was his second F1 appearance this season.
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The 19-year-old, who is currently driving for PREMA in F2, stood in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in Jeddah and had an impressive debut as he finished seventh and scored six points.
In his first full F1 weekend in Baku, Bearman suffered a crash in Friday’s practice at turn one. But the Brit put that behind him as he matched his experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg for pace and went on to finish ahead of the German in 10th, becoming the first driver in F1 history to score points with two different teams in his first two race starts.
Meanwhile, at Williams, Franco Colapinto made his second appearance for the team after he was drafted in from F2 to replace Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the season.
Colapinto also put a crash on Friday behind him as he showed blistering pace to keep up with teammate Alex Albon and came home to finish eighth, becoming the first Argentinian to score points in F1 since Carlos Reutemann in 1982.
With Bearman and Colapinto’s performances, F2 CEO Bruno Michel told Motorsport that the ‘pyramid is working’ as the drivers were almost immediately on the pace in Azerbaijan.
“At the end of the day, why is the pyramid there? It is to prepare drivers for Formula 1 and we want to make sure that when they are coming into F1, they are ready,” he said.
“We saw what happened last weekend in Baku, with two F2 drivers stepping into F1 and being immediately on the spot, scoring points in their first race – well, it was not their first race actually – but they are really starting [out]. It means the pyramid is working and that is really important.”
READ MORE: Oliver Bearman shares what it’s like going back to F2 after F1 outings
Three Formula 2 drivers have been confirmed on the Formula 1 grid for 2025
Michel’s stance that the pyramid is working is further proven by the fact that Bearman will be racing full-time with Haas in 2025.
In fact, his PREMA teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has also been confirmed as an F1 driver next season with Mercedes, as well as former F2 driver Jack Doohan, who will join Alpine.
However, it is a bit complicated for Colapinto, as Williams already have Albon and Carlos Sainz in their line-up in 2025. The Argentine is being rumoured as a target for the vacant Sauber seat, as well as F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto.
There are two rounds of the 2024 F2 season remaining, with Bortoleto holding just a four-and-a-half point lead over Isack Hadjar heading into Qatar.