All images ©: Dutch Photo Agency
Invicta Racing and Gabriel Bortoleto were crowned 2024 Teams’ and Drivers’ Champions of FIA Formula 2 after securing second in the Abu Dhabi Feature Race.
In the gleaming Abu Dhabi sunshine, the FIA Formula 2 Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships were to be decided in the final Feature Race of the 2024 season. With Kush Maini lining up fifth, Gabriel Bortoleto second and title rival Isack Hadjar in third, it all came down to one race.
READ MORE: 2024 FIA Formula 2 Abu Dhabi Sprint Race results
Remarkably, the Drivers’ title drama unfolded in the instant the lights went out, as Hadjar stalled on the line and Gabriel was left to launch into an early lead. Meanwhile, Maini had an equally strong getaway and slotted into second behind his team-mate.
With Invicta Racing running 1-2, all looked to be going to plan in the Teams’ standings as well, but there was still a long way to go. On Lap 7, Maini pitted from second, but a slow stop dropped him right down the order to 17th.
Bortoleto followed suit pitting on Lap 8 and rejoined in eighth, but the Brazilian struggled to get temperature into his tyres on his out lap and conceded positions to Joshua Dürksen and Victor Martins.
As the race approached half distance, Bortoleto was running in 10th – a net third excluding the alternate strategy runners – and found his form to begin closing on Martins.
The leading trio made their way through the alternate strategy runners, and Gabriel made decisive moves on Cian Shields and Luke Browning to stay in touch with Martins. With the final stoppers piling into the pits on Lap 29, Bortoleto was back into third. That same lap, he pressured Martins and finally found a way past into second.
Maini recovered from his poor stop to finish 12th at the flag, and although Gabriel pressured Dürksen in the final laps of the season, he crossed the line second to take the Drivers’ Championship and secure the Teams’ title for Invicta Racing.
READ MORE: The defining moments of Gabriel Bortoleto's Formula 2 title campaign
READ MORE: Road to the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Teams' Championship
GABRIEL BORTOLETO
"It’s a dream for me to win F2 and F3 as a rookie. I can’t believe it. I’m not thinking right now, I’m on another planet. I didn’t know if Isack [Hadjar] was in or out, I was just focused on the victory. I almost got Joshua [Dürksen] at the end but congratulations to him for the win.
"I’m super happy to win the championship. I couldn’t ask for more. When you think about the dream career before F1, I achieved everything I wanted to. I won F3 in my rookie season, I won F2 in my rookie season, and now I have a seat for next year. For me, it’s the best feeling ever. I’m super proud. Thanks to everyone who supported me this year; Invicta Racing, McLaren, and every single person on and off the track supporting me. I’m a small percentage of this achievement."
Abu Dhabi F2 FEATURE RACE RESULTS
- Started: 2nd
- Finished: 2nd
- Points: 18
F2 Championship results
- Points: 214.5
- Final position: 1st
KUSH MAINI
"Firstly, a huge congratulations to Gabriel. He has had an incredible season and fully deserves this championship. And also, to Invicta Racing for taking the Teams’ title. I’m proud of the part I played in such an amazing achievement. That race wasn’t the way I wanted to end this season though, we were running 1-2 and it all looked like a dream end to the year before the stop. These things happen, it doesn’t make it any less disappointing. Still, we end 2024 as champions and that was the aim this weekend."
Abu Dhabi F2 FEATURE RACE RESULTS
- Started: 5th
- Finished: 12th
- Points: 0
F2 Championship results
- Points: 74
- Final position: 13th
ANDY ROCHE, TEAM PRINCIPAL
"This title is for every single team member at Invicta Racing, all those working behind the scenes and of course, our two amazing drivers who made this the greatest F2 team in the world in 2024. We are champions, and no one can take that away from us. Gabriel is a deserving champion and, if he hadn’t already, has fully earned his seat in F1 next season. We couldn’t ask for more from 2024."
Team Championship results
- Points: 288.5
- Final position: 1st
