Joshua Durksen tops Day 2 of FIA F2 test in Abu Dhabi, as Red Bull names Alisha Palmowski for F1 Academy, and MotoGP inks deal for Brazil race.
F2 –
MORNING
It was a busy start to day two as most of the drivers filed out of the pit lane with PREMA Racing’s Sebastián Montoya the early pacesetter on a 1:38.239, putting him 0.089s clear of Jak Crawford. With 13 minutes gone there was an early Red Flag after Van Amersfoort Racing’s John Bennett spun into a stoppage at Turn 2.
Once the action resumed, Joshua Duerksen took over top spot for AIX Racing, completing a 1:37.500, only for PREMA’s Gabriele Minì to beat that time by 0.139s. But then came the MP Motorsport pair as first Richard Verschoor went fastest before Oliver Goethe took P1 from his teammate by 0.014s, thanks to a 1:37.243.
With 40 minutes of running gone, AIX strapped on the Supersoft tyres onto Duerksen’s car, and he went fastest on a 1:35.583, with Trident’s Max Esterson 1.4s off his pace in second. PREMA were next to put on the softer compound with Minì and Montoya going to P2 and P3 respectively, 0.696s and 0.937s off Duerksen’s leading time.
Esterson then moved back up to P2 on his Supersoft run, finding himself over three-tenths off top spot, while Josep María Martí rounded out the top three for Campos Racing. However, there was another halt to the session with Bennett having stopped again on track, this time at Turn 3 causing the marshals to wave the Red Flag once more.
Back to green flag conditions there were plenty of changes behind Duerksen, but no one could get to within three-tenths of his time, with Richard Verschoor going closest for MP Motorsport in P2, 0.311s behind. There were no further improvements for the rest of the morning, leaving Duerksen with the fastest time, while Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli 50 laps were the most of any driver.
| Position | Driver | Licence | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Duerksen | PRY | AIX Racing | 1:35.583 | 37 |
| 2 | Richard Verschoor | NLD | MP Motorsport | 1:35.894 | 48 |
| 3 | Max Esterson | USA | Trident | 1:35.904 | 44 |
| 4 | Victor Martins | FRA | ART Grand Prix | 1:35.931 | 40 |
| 5 | Gabriele Minì | ITA | PREMA Racing | 1:35.950 | 48 |
| 6 | Leonardo Fornaroli | ITA | Invicta Racing | 1:35.978 | `50 |
| 7 | Josep María Martí | ESP | Campos Racing | 1:36.051 | 41 |
| 8 | Alexander Dunne | IRE | Rodin Motorsport | 1:36.100 | 38 |
| 9 | Rafael Villagómez | MEX | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:36.116 | 43 |
| 10 | Roman Stanek | CZE | Invicta Racing | 1:36.164 | 43 |
| 11 | Dino Beganovic | SWE | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 1:36.199 | 47 |
| 12 | Oliver Goethe | DEU | MP Motorsport | 1:36.237 | 47 |
| 13 | Christian Mansell | AUS | Rodin Motorsport | 1:36.259 | 40 |
| 14 | Arvid Lindblad | GBR | Campos Racing | 1:36.308 | 47 |
| 15 | Sebastián Montoya | COL | PREMA Racing | 1:36.419 | 45 |
| 16 | Ritomo Miyata | JPN | Rodin Motorsport | 1:36.446 | 41 |
| 17 | Sami Meguetounif | FRA | Trident | 1:36.561 | 28 |
| 18 | Luke Browning | GBR | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 1:36.918 | 48 |
| 19 | Cian Shields | GBR | AIX Racing | 1:37.075 | 41 |
| 20 | Kush Maini | IND | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:37.276 | 40 |
| 21 | Jak Crawford | USA | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:37.662 | 36 |
| 22 | John Bennett | GBR | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:37.683 | 39 |
AFTERNOON
The action continued after the break with Arvid Lindblad leading a Campos Racing one-two, the Briton’s 1:38.664 putting him 1.3s clear of teammate Martí. They were then usurped by the Trident pair as Esterson rocketed to the top on a 1:36.705, giving him a half a second lead ahead of Sami Meguetounif.
However, on his next push lap, Meguetounif was able to go 0.005s off the American, as they separated themselves from the rest of the field. Another set of teammates in Minì and Montoya then moved themselves to third and fourth, respectively, the PREMA pair finding themselves nearly one second off Esterson’s pace.
The order remained the same for much of the afternoon as the teams focused on long run pace. However, as we entered into the final five minutes of the day, Duerksen completed a 1:36.533 to make it a clean sweep of sessions. Richard Verschoor and Ritomo Miyata were the busiest of the day ending their afternoon with 67 laps each.
| Position | Driver | Licence | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Duerksen | PRY | AIX Racing | 1:36.533 | 48 |
| 2 | Max Esterson | USA | Trident | 1:36.705 | 49 |
| 3 | Sami Meguetounif | FRA | Trident | 1:36.710 | 42 |
| 4 | Gabriele Minì | ITA | PREMA Racing | 1:37.448 | 38 |
| 5 | Sebastián Montoya | COL | PREMA Racing | 1:37.690 | 39 |
| 6 | Alexander Dunne | IRE | Rodin Motorsport | 1:38.327 | 47 |
| 7 | Christian Mansell | AUS | Rodin Motorsport | 1:38.606 | `46 |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | GBR | Campos Racing | 1:38.664 | 48 |
| 9 | John Bennett | GBR | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:38.761 | 51 |
| 10 | Kush Maini | IND | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:39.187 | 48 |
| 11 | Luke Browning | GBR | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 1:39.652 | 49 |
| 12 | Victor Martins | FRA | ART Grand Prix | 1:40.017 | 62 |
| 13 | Josep María Martí | ESP | Campos Racing | 1:40.061 | 51 |
| 14 | Jak Crawford | USA | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:40.091 | 35 |
| 15 | Rafael Villagómez | MEX | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:40.100 | 36 |
| 16 | Leonardo Fornaroli | ITA | Invicta Racing | 1:40.212 | 61 |
| 17 | Richard Verschoor | NLD | MP Motorsport | 1:40.435 | 67 |
| 18 | Cian Shields | GBR | AIX Racing | 1:40.678 | 40 |
| 19 | Ritomo Miyata | JPN | ART Grand Prix | 1:40.875 | 67 |
| 20 | Oliver Goethe | DEU | MP Motorsport | 1:40.881 | 62 |
| 21 | Roman Stanek | CZE | Invicta Racing | 1:40.980 | 48 |
| 21 | Dino Beganovic | SWE | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 1:40.993 | 40 |
Red Bull, F1 Academy –
After an exciting first year in F1 Academy, Red Bull Academy Programme is pleased to announce that Alisha Palmowski is joining the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme for 2025. Alisha had a successful debut in F1 Academy as the Qatar Wild Card entrant, where she placed fifth in the only contested race of the weekend. Following her debut, Alisha has secured her next step in single-seaters with a full-time seat with the Red Bull family for 2025.
Alisha Palmowski is an 18 year old British Racing Driver originally hailing from Derbyshire. As a long-time motorsport enthusiast, Alisha started her racing career in karts in 2018. From 2019-2021, Alisha competed in the Daniel Ricciardo Series, where she was Junior Vice Champion in both 2020 and 2021. She made the switch to cars in 2022 with the Ginetta Juniors Series, and in 2024, she was selected as the BRDC Rising Star, while also becoming the GB4 Vice Champion in her first year in single-seaters.
The Red Bull Academy Programme line-up in F1 Academy is finalised with Alisha joining Chloe Chambers and Rafaela Ferreira for 2025. All three drivers will be supported by and driving for Campos Racing. Red Bull and Campos Racing have a strong partnership aimed at advancing and supporting young drivers, with a multitude of Red Bull backed drivers driving for the squad across F3 and F2. Extending to F1 Academy is a natural progression of the partnership and shows the depth of both team’s commitment to developing the next generation of drivers.
In the F1 Academy series, drivers can only participate for two seasons, before stepping in to the next phase of their career. The Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme would like to thank current driver Hamda Al Qubaisi for her hard work and dedication over the 2024 season. The 2025 F1 Academy season will consist of fourteen races in seven rounds across the globe in China, Saudi Arabia, Miami, Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Las Vegas.
Alisha Palmowski said: “I am incredibly excited and honoured to be joining the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Programme in F1 Academy for 2025. Oracle Red Bull Racing is one of the best teams on the grid, and to see the talent they have brought through the doors and to get to be a part of that next generation is something that I could never have imagined. The Team has been incredibly supportive so far, and I can’t wait to get fully underway with them in 2025 with the ultimate goal of winning the championship. I have already been working in the sim and with the Team to get a jumpstart on next year and have full focus on performing and delivering results.”
Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington said: “Alisha impressed us from the start and has already proved herself on the F1 Academy grid as a Wild Card entrant in Qatar. We are very excited to welcome her to the Red Bull Academy Programme for 2025, and she is a great addition to complete our line-up as we look to next season. We’ve taken a lot of key learnings from our first year in F1 Academy, and are looking forward to building and pushing harder with a fresh challenge.”
MotoGP, Brazil –
MotoGP is set to return to Brazil! Goiânia will welcome the most exciting sport on earth from 2026 to 2030 thanks to a new deal between MotoGP, the government of Goiás, and Brasil Motorsport. The Goiânia International Racetrack Ayrton Senna, which will host the events, first welcomed MotoGP from 1987 to 1989. The sport then raced elsewhere in Brazil before a two-decade intermission which will conclude in 2026 once upgrades to the venue in Goiânia are completed.
Brazil has an established fanbase and has already won in MotoGP with Alex Barros. Rising star Diogo Moreira, Moto2 Rookie of the Year, now looks to give fans even more to cheer for as we return. MotoGP aims to expand its audience exponentially in the coming seasons and both Brazil and South America are key markets with much to offer.
For fans coming to see the most exciting sport on earth in Goiânia, the city balances green spaces and high levels of urban development with a strong commitment to environmental and cultural preservation. A modern, planned and vibrant city, Goiânia is the capital of Goiás state, known as the “Heart of Brazil”, and close to the nation’s capital.
For Goiânia and Goiás, the benefits of hosting MotoGP make it a win-win as the sport offers on track spectacle, off track entertainment and a shot of unrivalled adrenaline. Every event makes a positive economic and social impact as MotoGP brings hundreds of thousands of fans to the grandstands and leads by example – showcasing engineering efficiency and road safety. With an established reputation for attracting major companies and international investment, contributing to its already notable economic growth, Goiás is a perfect home for MotoGP in Brazil.
Brasil Motorsport, a driving force behind the continuation and success of the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, will work with MotoGP to bring this event to life in Goiânia, in partnership with the Government of Goiás. “The return of MotoGP to Goiás is a historical landmark for us. Goiânia will be, for the next five years, the home of MotoGP in Brazil. We are working to ensure that the infrastructure and services provide an unforgettable experience for riders, teams, and fans,” declared Governor Ronaldo Caiado.
“The Brasil Motorsport team has a history of working with major sports leagues and organising major events. Based on this experience, I am convinced that MotoGP will be a great success in Goiânia. We’ll have one of the most exciting sports event in the world together with entertainment attractions, strong brands and enthusiastic fans. A mix that is guaranteed to be a success”, says Alan Adler, CEO of Brasil Motorsport.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports, adds: “We are very much looking forward to returning to Brazil. We have a good fanbase who we know are excited about this news, just as we’re eager to return to race for them again, and this new agreement also offers a fantastic opportunity to expand in a key market for the sport and our manufacturers. Brazil is a global player and somewhere we have always believed deserves a space on our calendar. Working with the government of Goiás and Brasil Motorsport, who have an impressive and proven track record, is an opportunity we are very excited to take.”
Here’s how Day 1 of F2 test panned out
[The story is as per press release]