Who are the McLaren drivers in F2?
Newly-crowned Formula 2 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli has become one of three new signings to the McLaren Driver Development Programme, with the Italian joining alongside fellow F2 racer Richard Verschoor and 2025 FIA European Karting Champion Christian Costoya. Leonardo Fornaroli sealed the 2025 Formula 2 title, matching the likes of Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto in becoming a back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 champion.
Which driver skipped F2?
There are also F1 drivers who skipped F2 and moved directly from F3 to the pinnacle category. Examples include Verstappen — who previously raced in the European F3 — and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. Some drivers bypass F2 entirely, although this is the exception rather than the rule. Max Verstappen, for example, who jumped from F3 to F1, or Kimi Räikkönen, who skipped F3 as well.F2 cars have much simpler aerodynamics, with basic front and rear wings that do not create as much downforce as F1 cars. As a result, cars in Formula 2 are less stable at high speeds and require more driver skills to control.But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find they’re actually really different. F1 is the top tier of motorsport, with the fastest cars, the biggest teams, and the most advanced technology. The place that every race driver wants to be! F2, on the other hand, is all about developing future F1 stars.
Who was the last F1 driver killed?
Grosjean credited the safety changes brought on by Bianchi’s fatal crash with saving his life. As of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Bianchi remains the most recent fatality in the Formula One World Championship. The number 17 was retired from Formula One in his honour by the FIA, who mandated the halo cockpit protection device in all open-wheel championships from 2018 onwards. As of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Bianchi remains the most recent fatality in the Formula One World Championship.Why is number 17 banned in F1? As a tribute to Jules Bianchi, who tragically lost his life in a crash in 2014, car number 17 remains retired from Formula 1.