Lusail, two rounds in the desert
The FIA Formula 2 Championship is in full swing as it prepares for the final two rounds of the 2025 season. The first is scheduled in Qatar, with the drivers of the second-tier series competing on the Lusail circuit, just outside Doha. After the trip to Baku in mid-September and over a two-month break, Trident Motorsport is ready to return to the track.
On Qatari soil, there will be a new addition to the Milan-based team with headquarters in Ossona. The 5,149-meter Lusail track will witness James Wharton's debut in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. The 19-year-old Australian, born in Melbourne, will partner another driver who is making his first steps in the category, Laurens Van Hoepen.
Coming from the FIA Formula 3 Championship, the 20-year-old Dutchman made his debut with Trident Motorsport in Baku, immediately demonstrating a good adaptation to the more powerful single-seater as well as a good understanding of the team.
Rivals in the third series, Van Hoepen and Wharton will find themselves working in the same garage to try to get the best results. Both making their debut at the Lusail circuit, the two rookies will try to maximize their work in free practice to learn the track's secrets. The drivers have carefully and thoroughly prepared for the trip together with the technical staff; now they just await the response of the track.
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: “Since we're tackling an extremely technical track with two drivers with limited Formula 2 experience, it will be crucial to avoid mistakes and find the right feeling with the track as quickly as possible. I'm very confident that we can do a good job and perform at a competitive pace. It will be important for the entire technical staff to work well with Laurens and James, who will be making his debut for Trident Motorsport, to extract the maximum potential available to us.”
The engines of the FIA Formula 2 Championship cars will start on Friday at 2:05 PM, with the 45-minute free practice session. Qualifying also takes place on the same day, starting at 7:10 PM. The Sprint Race will take place on Saturday at 7:20 PM. The Feature Race, which will conclude the weekend, will start on Sunday at 3:00 PM. All track activity will be broadcast live on Sky Sport F1, while all times are in local time (GMT +3).