Alpine F1 junior Jack Doohan will stay with Virtuosi Racing as Amaury Cordeel joins them for the 2023 FIA F2 season.
Doohan joined the Formula 2 grid as the FIA Formula 3 vice-champion and immediately translated that success into the second tier, taking pole on his opening weekend in the championship.
The Australian – son of legendary five-time 500cc [MotoGP] World Champion, Mick Doohan – re-signs with the team following a successful rookie season in which he secured three wins, six podiums, three pole positions, and four fastest laps. The Norfolk-based squad will be hoping to build on this success in 2023.
The 19-year-old racer’s F2 form earned him his competitive Formula 1 debut with Alpine, with FP1 outings at the Mexico City Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as several private tests with the F1 team in older machinery.
On the re-signing of Doohan, Virtuosi team boss Andy Roche said: “We’re delighted to be sticking with Jack for 2023. Jack enjoyed a brilliant rookie season with us and showed obvious potential for more. Together, we will be working hard to ensure he achieves that.”
Jack Doohan will be joined at Virtuosi Racing by Amaury Cordeel, who completes the team’s 2023 line-up. The Belgian driver stepped up from FIA Formula 3 at the beginning of the 2022 season and raced for F2 newcomers Van Amersfoort Racing.
The new team and driver spent the first half of the year finding their feet before showing clear improvement in the latter stages of their rookie year, finishing in the points in four of the final five races, with a best finish of fifth in the finale at Abu Dhabi.
Virtuosi will be looking to ensure Cordeel continues the upward trajectory that he ended 2022 on. On the signing, Andy Roche said: Amaury’s results improved over his rookie year and we’ll be looking to work with him to improve further in 2023. Amaury settled into our car well during the Abu Dhabi post-season test and we’re looking forward to getting to it in 2023.”
Upon signing with Virtuosi, Doohan said: “I’m thrilled to be continuing with Virtuosi Racing for my second year in Formula 2. After a strong first season together, I couldn’t be happier to be going into 2023 with the same great team around me. I can’t wait to get redemption from this season.”
And Cordeel added: “I’m very happy to say I will be driving with Virtuosi in F2 next year. It is clear that Virtuosi is among the top teams, which will only make my personal growth better. I’ve already noticed during the three-day test in Abu Dhabi that they support me insanely well. The second half of the 2022 season was very promising for next year and I am sure that together with Virtuosi I can achieve my future dreams. I’m really thankful for this opportunity.”
2023 F2 line-up so far:
MP Motorsport – Dennis Hauger
Prema – Oliver Bearman, Frederik Vesti
Campos Racing – Ralph Boschung, Kush Maini
DAMS – Arthur Leclerc
Trident – Clement Novalak
PHM Racing by Charouz – Roy Nissany, Brad Benavides
Virtuosi Racing – Jack Doohan, Amaury Cordeel
[Note: The story is as per press release]