Jehan Daruvala kept top spot on Day 2 of FIA Formula 2 (F2) Championship as James Wharton gets FDA spot, Venturi gets new investment and Juan Pablo Montoya joins Arrow McLaren for Indy500.
F2:
Like Day 1, Carlin and Red Bull junior, Daruvala, remained on top on Day 2 of Bahrain F2 test, after the Indian improved to a 1m41.686s late in the day to lead Prema’s Robert Shwartzman (1m41.853s) and the other Carlin of Dan Ticktum (1m42.050s).
The Indian was second to Campos’ Ralph Boschung in the morning session. The time of 1m42.244s, though, was enough for fifth place behind Hitech GP’s Liam Lawson (1m42.177s) as the young Kiwi showed good pace all around.
Boschung’s time from the morning session was the sole to be in the Top 10 at the end of the day as DAMS’ Marcus Armstrong (1m42.281s) was sixth from UNI-Virtuosi Racing’s Felipe Drugovich (1m42.373s), with MP Motorsport’s Louis Deletraz (1m42.375s) eighth.
The Top 10 was rounded out by Charouz’s David Beckmann (1m42.398s) & Guilherme Samaia (1m42.415s) as Trident’s Clement Novalak (1m42.467s) with Campos’ Logan Sargeant (1m42.512s) missed out on it.
It was a clean run all-through the day apart from two stoppages late for HWA Racelab’s Matteo Naninni and ART Grand Prix’ Theo Pourchaire – where the former stopped at Turn 8 and the latter spun around in the same corner.
Here’s F2 order from AM:
| DRIVER | TEAM | LAPTIME | LAPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ralph Boschung | Campos Racing | 1:42.244 | 33 |
| 2 | Jehan Daruvala | Carlin | 1:42.271 | 43 |
| 3 | Liam Lawson | Hitech Grand Prix | 1:42.337 | 35 |
| 4 | Jüri Vips | Hitech Grand Prix | 1:42.550 | 30 |
| 5 | Christian Lundgaard | ART Grand Prix | 1:42.819 | 32 |
| 6 | Felipe Drugovich | UNI-Virtuosi | 1:42.931 | 45 |
| 7 | Marcus Armstrong | DAMS | 1:42.961 | 39 |
| 8 | Dan Ticktum | Carlin | 1:43.018 | 44 |
| 9 | Roy Nissany | DAMS | 1:43.082 | 36 |
| 10 | Marino Sato | Trident | 1:43.095 | 41 |
| 11 | Logan Sargeant | Campos Racing | 1:43.099 | 42 |
| 12 | Théo Pourchaire | ART Grand Prix | 1:43.117 | 33 |
| 13 | Clément Novalak | Trident | 1:43.277 | 22 |
| 14 | David Beckmann | Charouz Racing System | 1:43.316 | 37 |
| 15 | Louis Delétraz | MP Motorsport | 1:43.464 | 41 |
| 16 | Guilherme Samaia | Charouz Racing System | 1:43.718 | 38 |
| 17 | Matteo Nannini | BWT HWA RACELAB | 1:43.855 | 28 |
| 18 | Lirim Zendeli | MP Motorsport | 1:44.650 | 44 |
| 19 | Roberto Merhi | BWT HWA RACELAB | 1:45.844 | 17 |
| 20 | Guanyu Zhou | UNI-Virtuosi | 1:47.579 | 53 |
| 21 | Oscar Piastri | PREMA Racing | 1:48.139 | 46 |
| 22 | Robert Shwartzman | PREMA Racing | 2:03.206 | 31 |
Here’s F2 order from PM:
| DRIVER | TEAM | LAPTIME | LAPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jehan Daruvala | Carlin | 1:41.686 | 34 |
| 2 | Robert Shwartzman | PREMA Racing | 1:41.853 | 33 |
| 3 | Dan Ticktum | Carlin | 1:42.050 | 35 |
| 4 | Liam Lawson | Hitech Grand Prix | 1:42.177 | 39 |
| 5 | Marcus Armstrong | DAMS | 1:42.281 | 42 |
| 6 | Felipe Drugovich | UNI-Virtuosi | 1:42.373 | 29 |
| 7 | Louis Delétraz | MP Motorsport | 1:42.375 | 23 |
| 8 | David Beckmann | Charouz Racing System | 1:42.398 | 40 |
| 9 | Guilherme Samaia | Charouz Racing System | 1:42.415 | 38 |
| 10 | Clément Novalak | Trident | 1:42.467 | 47 |
| 11 | Logan Sargeant | Campos Racing | 1:42.512 | 36 |
| 12 | Guanyu Zhou | UNI-Virtuosi | 1:42.629 | 47 |
| 13 | Ralph Boschung | Campos Racing | 1:42.635 | 31 |
| 14 | Jüri Vips | Hitech Grand Prix | 1:42.672 | 39 |
| 15 | Oscar Piastri | PREMA Racing | 1:42.719 | 33 |
| 16 | Marino Sato | Trident | 1:42.869 | 53 |
| 17 | Roy Nissany | DAMS | 1:42.876 | 30 |
| 18 | Christian Lundgaard | ART Grand Prix | 1:42.888 | 41 |
| 19 | Lirim Zendeli | MP Motorsport | 1:43.068 | 18 |
| 20 | Matteo Nannini | BWT HWA RACELAB | 1:43.744 | 25 |
| 21 | Théo Pourchaire | ART Grand Prix | 1:44.519 | 35 |
| 22 | Roberto Merhi | BWT HWA RACELAB | 1:44.981 | 19 |
Here’s how Day 1 of F2 testing went: https://formularapida.net/daruvala-tops-day-1-of-f2-test-herta-moves-to-26-andretti-indycar/
Juan Pablo Montoya joins Arrow McLaren SP for Indy500:
Montoya has added another race in an already busy schedule of the Colombian in 2021, where he is to compete full-time in WEC and also IMSA with different teams. The former F1 driver will return to IndyCar as well, to race in Indy500 with Arrow McLaren SP.
The two-time Indy500 winner will partner Felix Rosenqvist and Patricio O’Ward, effectively replacing Fernando Alonso. “I’m very excited to be joining Arrow McLaren SP for the Indianapolis 500,” said Montoya. “I have some great history with McLaren from my F1 days and I’m looking forward to making some more at next year’s Indianapolis 500.”
Co-owner Sam Schmidt added: “Arrow McLaren SP is thrilled to have a driver of Juan’s caliber join the team for next year’s Indianapolis 500. His experience will elevate the entire team, including our young, talented lineup of Pato and Felix. When you think that he’s only started the Indy 500 five times but won it twice, that’s impressive.”
At the same time, Zak Brown said: “I’m delighted for Juan to rejoin the McLaren family and return to the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP. He is an intensely competitive, highly versatile driver, with deep experience at the top level of motorsport and a big following. Having him with us at the 500 next year will be great for the team and INDYCAR fans everywhere.”
Venturi Formula E team gets new investors:
In a move to strengthen itself financially and also performance wise in Formula E, Venturi has roped in new investors led by Scott Swid and Jose M Aznar Botella, where Team Principal Susie Wolff and Founder Gildo Pastor, will retain their interest in the outfit.
As announced before, Jerome D’Ambrosio will be the Deputy Team Principal with Edoardo Mortara and Norman Nato as its drivers for 2020/21 season. “We move forward into our next chapter as a team under the new ownership led by Jose and Scott and I am pleased to become a Managing Partner alongside my role as Team Principal,” said Wolff.
“The investment experience of Scott and Jose will strengthen the team‘s capabilities and provide us with interesting new perspectives and opportunities for the future. This move also demonstrates the positive role that the forthcoming cost cap has to play in the commercial viability and therefore appeal of the sport to investors and partners.
“I want to also take this opportunity to thank Gildo for his trust and unwavering support. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a visionary and have no doubt that Gildo will continue to push the boundaries of sustainable mobility far beyond what many dare to deem possible.”
Meanwhile, new Chairman and Managing Partner, Swid added: “Initially, we were looking at Formula 1 from an investment perspective – but understandably José is a big believer in the potential of Formula E and introduced me to Susie. From our first meeting, I could see the unique business case the sport and the team present.
“Investing in Venturi, with its heritage as an original team guided by the visionary Gildo Pastor, and competing in an exciting sport that promotes global sustainability and pioneering electric mobility is a great opportunity. Every forward-thinking corporate board in the world is cognisant of the importance of sustainability and is looking for ways to invest in its future.
“Formula E is in its intermediate stage, having successfully overcome the hurdles of its early period. With this strong foundation, it is a great time to invest when the championship is established and there is still so much growth to come.”
Here’s news on Colton Herta
James Wharton wins Ferrari Driver Academy programme:
Ferrari announced 14-year-old James Wharton as the winner of its Scouting programme as the Australian is set to join the academy with a F4 campaign to kick things off. He still has some time to compete in the category, which allows entry from 15-years of age.
Wharton beat Viktor Gustafsson, Nikita Bedrin, Charlie Wurz (Alex Wurz’s son), Marcos Flack (fellow Australian) and Santiago Ramos Reynoso, to earn the spot, after going through multiple days of selection programme back in October at Fiorano.
“I am very happy to be selected as the best candidate in the Camp, because it’s a reward for all the effort me and my family have always put into my dream of becoming a professional racing driver,” said Wharton. “The FDA programme looks very interesting and I am sure it is the ideal path for me to progress.”
At the same time, FDA head Marco Matassa, added: “James Wharton impressed us in many ways. He has considerable natural speed and he combines this with the ability to listen and put into practice the advice he is given. We saw that at Fiorano from the way he drove in both dry and wet conditions.
“His level headed and positive attitude, his ability as a team player and his cheerful nature make him particularly suitable for motor sport, which requires a driver to perform on track but also to be able to communicate with the team so as to help them with their work.
“Being able to express the feeling from the car into words is no easy matter and James proved adept at it. He is also well educated, respectful and humble; values which fit well with those of the FDA. James’ selection also shows that the FDA’s Scouting system, which it expanded this year, works well and I’d like to thank Motorsport Australia for identifying James’ talent for us,” he summed up, also revealing that the FIA Girls on Track programme’s finale has been re-schedule to January 11-15 after COVID-19 issues.