F2 in Losail: five drivers fight for the title in Qatar with Fornaroli at the front By Bruna
4 min read
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Five drivers are still competing for the Fórmula 2 title in the penultimate stage of the 2025 season, held in Circuito Internacional of Losail, in Catar. The Italian Leonardo Fornaroli, from Invicta Racing, leads with a 19 point advantage over the American Jak Crawford, from DAMS, while the British Luke Browning, from The round takes place between November 28th and 30th, with the sprint on Saturday at 7:20 pm and the main on Sunday at 3:00 pm local time. Fornaroli’s consistency and Crawford’s recent wins keep the race open until the final at Yas Marina.
The category of access to Fórmula 1 attracts attention with young talents seeking places on higher grids for 2026 or 2027. Local times favor global broadcasts, with a focus on overtaking under the artificial lights of the 5.38 km route.
- Main candidates: Fornaroli (leader), Crawford (2nd), Browning (3rd), Verschoor (4th), Dunne (5th).
- Points at stake: 25 in the main, 10 in the sprint, plus 1 for the fastest lap in the top 10.
- Teams involved: Invicta, DAMS, Hitech, MP and Rodin.
Leonardo Fornaroli trajectory in leadership
Leonardo
Invicta Racing, the 2024 champion team, provided the ideal support for its rise. Fornaroli has avoided retirements since July, always finishing in the top 6, which has built its current lead of 19 points.
Jak Crawford Initial Challenges
Jak Crawford faced an uneven start, with no points in the first four races. The American from DAMS broke the streak with a second place in the Jeddah main in April.
His victory in the Imola sprint marked the turning point. Em Mônaco, despite the race being shortened by red flags, he scored crucial points in the main.
The promotion to reserve Aston Martin for 2026 reflects its potential, replacing Felipe Drugovich. Crawford has two major victories in Silverstone and Baku, keeping him 19 points behind the leader.
Consistency and stumbles of Luke Browning
Luke Browning debuted in F2 with solid results, including third in the Melbourne sprint and second in the Bahrein main. Dois podiums in Imola reinforced their starting position.
The Brit from Hitech led the championship briefly after Monza, in September. However, three non-pointing runs between August and October cost ground.
His first victory came in the Monza sprint, surpassing Joshua Durksen on the restart. A contact with Roman Stanek in Baku led to retirement, leaving him 27 points behind, but still in contention.
Browning focuses on recovery at Losail, where the route favors quick overtaking. Sua general consistency, with few errors, positions him as a constant threat.
Richard Verschoor’s Final Quest
Richard Verschoor returns to MP Motorsport for his fifth season in F2. The Dutchman won the main event in Jeddah, right at the opening, and the sprint in Barcelona, in June.
A victory in the Áustria main gave him a temporary lead of 24 points. Desde so, with no podiums in seven races, he depends on perfect results from his rivals.
Verschoor plans to retire from the category after 2025. Sua experience in
Meteoric rise of Alex Dunne
Alex Dunne surprised with victory in the main event of Bahrein, on his debut. The Irishman from Rodin took the lead after Imola, with another triumph in the Italian main.
Four podiums in a row kept him hopeful, but penalties for recent collisions and retirements leave him 58 points behind. Seu fifth time in F1 FP1 for McLaren in Áustria caught attention.
Dunne, 20, is one of the youngest in the fight. Apesar of the penalties, his sheer speed makes him unpredictable in Losail, where high-speed corners test the setup.
Race format in Losail
The sprint takes place on Saturday at 7:20 pm, with a reversed grid of the top 8 in the classification. The winner receives 10 points, decreasing to 1 for eighth.
On Sunday, the main one at 3pm scores the top 10, with 25 for first. Pneus mandatory midfielders at the start increase strategies.
The 5.38 km circuit, illuminated, registered a record speed of 205 km/h on average for Paul Aron in 2024. Condições hot night conditions influence wear.
- Key strategies: double pit stops in the main, tire conservation in the sprint.
- Bonus points: fastest lap to top 10 in both races.
- History: Losail has hosted F2 since 2021, with varying team victories.
Calendar and implications for 2026
The Losail stage marks the return of F2 after Baku, in September. The final in Yas Marina, from December 5th to 7th, will define the champion. Vagas in F1 for 2026 are scarce, but the title drives negotiations. Fornaroli and Crawford attract looks from Red Bull and Alpine. Equipes like Invicta and DAMS lead the constructors’ championship, with tight margins. The Qatar round can change hierarchies.
Leonardo Fornaroli, with his impeccable consistency from Spa and
His methodical approach, avoiding unnecessary risks on tracks like the Losail layout, with high-speed curves and night lighting that demand millimeter precision, reflects the maturity of a driver who came from Fórmula 3 without a single victory in 2024, but who now dreams of the continental double. Para observers, Fornaroli represents the prototype of F1-ready European talent, especially with negotiations underway for 2026 testing with midfield teams.
Expectations for the decisive round
Classification in Losail took place on Friday, with Oliver Goethe surprising on pole. Fornaroli will start in second, ready to push in the sprint.
Crawford, with his poor post-start resilience, aims for double podiums. Browning and Verschoor rely on traffic to gain positions. Dunne, despite the deficit, can steal points from potential safety cars.
