At the final round of the FIA Formula 2 season in Abu Dhabi, Gabriel Bortoleto made history by becoming champion in his rookie season, just a year after achieving the same feat in FIA F3.
His closest rival, Isack Hadjar, saw his hopes vanish within seconds after a disastrous stall at the start, ruining his chances of closing the 4.5-point gap to Bortoleto.
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Hadjar’s chaotic and decisive race start
From the very beginning, the tension was palpable. Isack Hadjar, in contention for the title, stalled on the grid, giving Gabriel Bortoleto an unexpected opportunity to cruise through the race with ease. Starting in second place, Bortoleto quickly took the lead as pole-sitter Victor Martins struggled to find his pace. This critical mistake, which Hadjar himself described as “the worst moment of [his] life,” sealed his fate. His F2 car was pushed into the pits on the first lap; although he managed to restart, he was already two laps down. Despite this setback, the French driver never gave up, hoping that a safety car could revive his chances. His determination demonstrated that, without this error, he might have claimed the title with a significantly stronger pace than his rival.
🏆 GABRIEL BORTOLETO 🏆
🏆 2024 FORMULA 2 CHAMPION 🏆#F2 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/tN2AmZiTxn
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) December 8, 2024
A well-executed strategy
The race also showcased diverse strategies. Joshua Durksen, who secured his maiden F2 victory, capitalized perfectly on an undercut with an early pit stop. Bortoleto, on the other hand, faced tense moments during his tire change. Surprised by a lack of grip after switching to medium tires, he briefly locked up his brakes twice under heavy braking. He lost positions before stabilizing and reclaiming second place by overtaking Victor Martins in the final laps. This result was enough to secure the 2024 FIA F2 championship title.
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A performance that cements Bortoleto’s legacy
With this championship victory, Gabriel Bortoleto joins an elite group of drivers like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri, who also won the F3 and F2 titles back-to-back. Interestingly, Bortoleto is supported by McLaren in Formula 2—the very team on the verge of winning the Formula 1 World Championship. His future seems bright, especially as he is expected to join Sauber in Formula 1 next year. This triumph is the culmination of a season marked by consistency and exemplary pressure management—qualities that promise to make him a rising star in motorsport. Notably, after just three races at the start of the season, he had only scored around ten points.
This article explores Gabriel Bortoleto’s meteoric rise, the stakes of a decisive final race, and the crucial role of strategy in Formula 2. It also covers the unfortunate incident at the start of the race for Isack Hadjar, and how stalling his F2 car destroyed his chances of winning the 2024 Formula 2 championship. A suspense-filled championship finale that sets the stage for a bright future for this young Brazilian talent.
Image: Dutch Photo Agency – Red Bull Content pool
