The 2024 FIA Formula 2 season has been as entertaining and unpredictable as fans have come to expect from the F1 single-seater feeder category. In the first season, under its new name and ownership, Invicta Racing came out of the blocks and was immediately firing on all cylinders.
Heading into the final two rounds of the season, Invicta Racing not only holds the enviable position of points leaders in the Teams’ Championship, but Gabriel Bortoleto also tops the Drivers’ Championship after an ultra-consistent run in recent events.
While fans wait patiently for the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, we wanted to explore the twists and turns of the title race so far in 2024.
Bahrain
The first competitive session of the season couldn’t have gone better with Kush Maini heading a one-two for the team and Bortoleto locking out the front row. The celebrations were short-lived though, as Maini was disqualified from the session following a post-race inspection and had to start both races from the back of the grid.
Sprint Race
That left Gabriel to start the Sprint Race from 10th and the Feature from pole. Both drivers made progress in Saturday’s 23-lap race, with the McLaren Academy member making his way up to sixth and the Alpine junior rising from last to 13th.
Feature Race
But the Feature showed Maini’s true pace to elevate him to seventh, a whopping 15 places above his grid slot. A poor start for Gabriel set the tone for his race, as he dropped back to fifth by the flag.
Invicta Racing
Points: 21
Teams’ Standings: 3rd
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 15
Drivers’ Standings: 4th
Kush Maini
Points: 6
Drivers’ Standings: 8th
Saudi Arabia
Having set the second fastest time, Kush was then elevated to Feature Race pole position when Oliver Bearman was called up to the Ferrari F1 seat. Gabriel had a trickier session and qualified in 14th.
Sprint Race
Like in Bahrain, both Invicta drivers made progress in the Sprint with Maini rising from 10th to take the final point in eighth and Bortoleto to 10th.
Feature Race
While Bortoleto’s race lasted but a handful of laps owing to a mechanical failure, Maini launched from pole into an early lead. Although he succumbed to a charging Enzo Fittipaldi at half-race distance, he fought hard in the closing stages to secure second, his and the team’s first podium of 2024.
Invicta Racing
Points: 42
Teams’ Standings: 2nd
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 15
Drivers’ Standings: 8th
Kush Maini
Points: 27
Drivers’ Standings: 5th
Australia
Maini’s consistent qualifying form continued down under as the Indian driver set the fourth-fastest time. His Brazilian team-mate on the other hand secured ninth and a front row grid slot in the Sprint.
Sprint Race
In a remarkable incident, a slow getaway for Bortoleto set him on a collision course with a wayward Pepe Marti, ending both of their races instantly as the pair speared into the barrier at the exit of the pit lane. Isack Hadjar, the catalyst for the collision was handed a post-race penalty which, in turn, meant that Maini was promoted to third in the final reckoning.
Feature Race
A mechanical issue just six laps into the Feature Race signalled the end of a disastrous weekend for Gabriel. Kush didn’t fare much better in the 33-lap race; despite leading in the first stint, an early Safety Car didn’t play to his strategy, yielding a final result of 12th.
Invicta Racing
Points: 48
Teams’ Standings: 5th
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 15
Drivers’ Standings: 12th
Kush Maini
Points: 33
Drivers’ Standings: 5th
Imola
Now, it was McLaren junior driver Gabriel’s turn to star in qualifying beating Bearman to pole by half a tenth. Kush, meanwhile, fell foul of track limits and his lap placed him 17th.
Sprint Race
Aided by a multi-car pile-up on Lap 1, both drivers charged through the field in the Sprint. Bortoleto was elevated to sixth by Turn 1 where he remained until the flag, while Maini was ninth after the first tour and claimed a further place in the final classification.
Feature Race
Bortoleto dropped to fourth off the line, but some of the front runners endured problematic stops enabling the Brazilian to retake a net second place behind Hadjar. He pushed the French driver all the way to the line, but in the end, secured his first F2 podium with second place. Further back, Maini gained three positions and brought his car home in 14th.
Invicta Racing
Points: 72
Teams’ Standings: 5th
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 38
Drivers’ Standings: 5th
Kush Maini
Points: 34
Drivers’ Standings: 8th
Monaco
From Monaco’s unique split-group qualifying, Gabriel secured ninth overall and Kush 16th.
Sprint Race
It was a stellar launch for Bortoleto who was side by side for the lead into Turn 1, but owing to Monaco’s narrow layout, was unable to capitalise on the superior run. From there, he followed Barnard every step of the way to take a second podium in succession. Maini, on the other hand, was powerless to avoid a spinning Zane Maloney at La Rascasse and had to retire the car.
Feature Race
Neither Invicta Racing driver made significant progress in the Feature, with Gabriel climbing from ninth to eighth and Kush holding station in 17th for the duration.
Invicta Racing
Points: 84
Teams’ Standings: 5th
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 50
Drivers’ Standings: 5th
Kush Maini
Points: 34
Drivers’ Standings: 9th
Spain
In another strong qualifying for the team, Gabriel set the fourth fastest time and Kush took 10th as well as Sprint Race pole.
Sprint Race
Maini was slow off the line and ended up going side by side with team-mate Bortoleto into Turn 1. After dicing on the opening tour, Kush led Gabriel past Juan Manuel Correa in the early stages, but the American came back at the Brazilian as his tyres cried enough on the penultimate lap. By the chequered flag, Gabriel had slipped back to seventh on the road. Post-race penalties elevated him to fifth and Kush to second.
Feature Race
Bortoleto battled amongst the top five throughout, but slipped backwards in the closing stages and with Maini charging forward, the two converged on the final lap. After they went side by side into Turn 1, the pair collided, with Kush eventually finishing in sixth and Gabriel in 10th.
Invicta Racing
Points: 105
Teams’ Standings: 4th
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 55
Drivers’ Standings: 7th
Kush Maini
Points: 50
Drivers’ Standings: 8th
Austria
The grid-deciding session closely resembled the order in Spain, with the McLaren junior just one place higher in third and the Alpine junior taking 10th and Sprint pole for the second event in succession.
Sprint Race
Kush was unable to capitalise on his number one grid slot and slipped back to third by the end of the first lap, and with the other Invicta making progress up the field, the pair went wheel-to-wheel once again. This time, Gabriel moved past without incident and took fourth at the flag, while Kush claimed seventh.
Feature Race
Maini was among several drivers to stall on the grid and had to start from the pitlane, and from there he faced an uphill battle to 17th. Further forward, Bortoleto slotted in behind Joshua Durksen, but just four laps in he made his move for the lead and didn’t look back. Even a late-charging Hadjar didn’t stop him from taking an emphatic first F2 win.
Invicta Racing
Points: 137
Teams’ Standings: 3rd
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 85
Drivers’ Standings: 3rd
Kush Maini
Points: 52
Drivers’ Standings: 8th
Silverstone
Once again, both drivers made it into the top ten in qualifying at Silverstone with Bortoleto in sixth and Maini in eighth.
Sprint
Kush occupied third after the start and an audacious move around the outside of Maggotts earned Bortoleto fourth place. Both drivers survived a deluge and several Safety Cars to remain in the same positions until the final tour; once again the team-mates went head-to-head in the final sequence of corners with Gabriel crossing the line third. A post-race penalty demoted him a position and elevated Kush to the final step on the podium.
Feature
It was a more straightforward race on Sunday for both drivers, with Maini falling to the back after early contact and finishing 19th, while Bortoleto ran in the top five in the early stint but shuffled back to sixth at the flag.
Invicta Racing
Points: 156
Teams’ Standings: 3rd
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 98
Drivers’ Standings: 4th
Kush Maini
Points: 58
Drivers’ Standings: 9th
Hungary
At the Hungaroring, Gabriel qualified in fourth and Kush in ninth to secure another double top ten.
Sprint Race
Despite Soft-tyre clad Kimi Antonelli taking charge in the early stages, the grippier rubber soon lost its edge, and Kush once again found himself in his second-place grid slot. He pushed Richard Verschoor all the way, struggling to find a way past on the narrow snaking layout, but a post-race inspection and ensuing penalty for Verschoor meant Maini secured his first victory in F2. Gabriel suffered the same fate as Antonelli, with his tyres fading before slipping back to his finishing position of 16th.
Feature Race
A late Safety Car thrust Bortoleto into second and race-winning contention, but before he could make a move on Victor Martins for the lead, Kimi Antonelli went steaming past the both of them. From there, the Brazilian battled with Verschoor to hold onto the final podium spot, but ultimately settled for fourth. Maini made a fantastic recovery drive, having dropped to 14th on the first lap to return to seventh at the flag.
Invicta Racing
Points: 184
Teams’ Standings: 1st
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 110
Drivers’ Standings: 3rd
Kush Maini
Points: 74
Drivers’ Standings: 9th
Belgium
Gabriel secured another Invicta Racing front row for the Feature, while Kush qualified in 12th for both races at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps.
Sprint Race
In a race cut short by inclement weather after just three laps, Gabriel finished 10th and Kush in 13th.
Feature Race
With conditions improved for Sunday’s race, Bortoleto got away well and held position through Eau Rouge, but conceded a position to Hadjar on the run up to Les Combes. After the pit stops had played out, he made light work of Paul Aron and set about chasing after Hadjar. Unable to bridge the gap, he settled for second in the race and a points haul that elevated him to second in the standings. Meanwhile, a difficult weekend for Maini ended with 15th place in the Feature.
Invicta Racing
Points: 203
Teams’ Standings: 1st (tied on points)
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 129
Drivers’ Standings: 2nd
Kush Maini
Points: 74
Drivers’ Standings: 9th
Italy
Monza’s qualifying session proved to be a challenging one for the Invicta duo. Kush Maini finished 15th while Gabriel ended his session in the gravel trap and would start both of the weekend’s races from the final grid spot.
Sprint Race
Recovery drives were the order of the day in the Sprint Race, with Kush rising four places to finish 11th. Meanwhile, Gabriel made a whopping 14 overtakes, eventually crossing the line in a dead heat for eighth, sharing the final point with Dennis Hauger.
Feature Race
The Italian Feature Race wasn’t one to remember for Maini who finished where he started, despite running at the front of the field on an alternate strategy – one that ultimately didn’t pay off for him – and setting the fast lap of the race at the last time of asking.
It was a very different story for Bortoleto, though. Having risen an impressive 10 positions in the early laps, a well-timed Safety Car enabled the Brazilian to pit and re-join at the head of those on the traditional strategy. Luck looked to be on his side, but he still had to deliver when it mattered, and he scythed his way past the alternate runners before opening a nine-second gap to his closest pursuer at the flag.
A memorable drive meant Gabriel became the first F2 driver to go from last on the grid to the top step of the podium, and that he closed to 10.5 points of the championship lead.
Invicta Racing
Points: 228.5
Teams’ Standings: 1st
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 154.5
Drivers’ Standings: 2nd
Kush Maini
Points: 74
Drivers’ Standings: 10th
Azerbaijan
Both drivers were vying for the top spots in a challenging qualifying session around the streets of Baku. Following a red flag disruption, a frenetic final four minutes followed in which Kush managed the fifth fastest time with Gabriel hot on his heels in sixth.
Sprint Race
A late-race Safety Car produced mixed fortunes for the drivers, with Kush falling just outside the points in ninth as the pack swarmed, mercilessly snatching positions from him. Gabriel was among those who used that momentum to regain lost ground, ultimately finishing where he started in fifth.
Feature Race
The Baku Feature Race was over before it even began for Maini, who stalled on the grid and was rammed by an unsighted Pepe Marti. The race was comparatively quiet for Bortoleto, who claimed a position from Zane Maloney after the pit stops and closed up to the back of Kimi Antonelli in the closing stages only to be denied the opportunity to take third by a Safety Car.
A consistent weekend for Bortoleto meant Invicta Racing retained its lead in the Teams’ Championship, while the Brazilian took charge at the top of the Drivers’ Standings with two rounds to go.
Invicta Racing
Points: 243.5
Teams’ Standings: 1st
Gabriel Bortoleto
Points: 169.5
Drivers’ Standings: 1st
Kush Maini
Points: 74
Drivers’ Standings: 11th
