PREMA are searching for two new drivers for the 2025 Formula 2 campaign as their current pairing makes the step to Formula 1.
Kimi Antonelli will continue his meteoric rise up the motorsport ranks as he joins Mercedes in 2025 as the replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
The 18-year-old sensation will be joined by his PREMA teammate Oliver Bearman in F1 as the Brit signs with Haas alongside Esteban Ocon.
The pair have faced multiple difficulties throughout the 2024 Formula 2 campaign, and the Italian team will be hoping to improve their fortunes next year and get back to the top of the field more consistently.
The grid for 2025 is slowly taking shape ‘with one or two surprises’ according to journalist Joe Saward, who revealed what he has been hearing about the two PREMA driver for next season.
Sebastian Montoya could be set to join Gabriele Mini at PREMA in 2025
It has been widely anticipated that Gabriele Mini will be making the step up from Formula 3 and will be one of PREMA’s drivers in F2 in 2025.
The Italian raced in F3 with the team this year having competed with Hitech in 2023. Grabbing one win and five podiums, Mini missed out on the title to Leonardo Fornaroli at the season finale at his home race at Monza.
READ MORE: Formula 2 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid
Another F3 driver who is looking to make the step up to F2 is Sebastian Montoya. Son of former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, the Colombian has struggled to perform in two seasons in the category.
Driving with Hitech and Campos Racing, Montoya scored one podium in 2023 and 2024 as he finished 16th and 17th in the standings. Despite these poor results, he has his sights set on a move to F2, with Montoya already organising a test in an old F2 car.
According to Saward, it is Montoya who will be joining Mini at PREMA next season. The journalist wrote in his blog: “The Formula 2 field for 2025 is now forming up with one or two surprises.
“I hear that Prema, which is losing both Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman, is going to be running the Sicilian Gabriele Minì and Sebastián Montoya, the son of former Grand Prix driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
“The Colombian has done two seasons of Formula 3 and has finished 16th in 2023 and 17th this year. It seems that he has substantial funding behind him and this may have helped get the drive as Minì may not have a full budget as the future of his relationship with Alpine is uncertain.”
PREMA will be hoping for a more competitive 2025 season in Formula 2
Known as one of the top teams at this level, PREMA have struggled in 2024 as Antonelli and Bearman have only grabbed two wins each thus far.
While Antonelli sits sixth in the standings – which is impressive for his debut season – Bearman has had a torrid season. While he has missed two rounds due to being called up to F1, the Brit has only scored points seven times in F2 this year.
READ MORE: Andrea Kimi Antonelli reveals where Prema teammate Oliver Bearman has been ‘incredible’ in 2024
If Mini and Montoya are to join PREMA next year, the pair will be hoping the team can improve their fortunes, but there will also be pressure on them to deliver the results.
Mini has already made his debut in F2 as he stood in for Bearman in Baku, finishing third in the Sprint Race. While he retired from the Feature Race, the Italian has already proven he can grab results at the front.
Montoya will bring substantial backing to the team as well as marketability given he is Juan Pablo Montoya’s son. But his results in F3 will certainly leave something to be desired when, or if he makes the jump to F2.