The French driver will fight for the championship in the United Arab Emirates in a weekend that promises to be a nail-biter. Hadjar faces the last two races of the year just half a point behind the leader. Martí's role may also be crucial as Campos Racing also aims to win the team championship
The die is cast. After an exciting 2024 season that began the first weekend of March, following 26 races and visiting circuits around the world, Yas Marina Circuit will be the stage where the new FIA Formula 2 champion will be crowned. One of the contenders is Isack Hadjar, the Campos Racing driver who has been one of the clear protagonists of this season and has managed to overcome all adversities with his team, whether in the form of mechanical issues or any other circumstances. The Frenchman will once again be supported in the United Arab Emirates by Pepe Martí, driving the other car for the Alzira-based team that proudly displays the Red Bull colors.
Considering the overall standings, where Hadjar has 188 points, just half a point behind his main rival Gabriel Bortoleto, the excitement will be at its peak. With only two races left, any mistake could be crucial. Hadjar, winner of four races so far and on the podium in four other occasions, knows that everything depends on finishing ahead of his Brazilian rival to achieve the coveted crown of the second most important FIA-sanctioned single-seater championship.
Martí's role could be very significant this weekend in supporting his teammate in the quest for the title. The rookie driver, who has two second places and a third to his name in his first season in the category, knows Yas Marina Circuit very well and will be one to watch in the top positions of the standings.
In addition to the drivers' championship, Campos Racing also has mathematical chances of winning the team championship. The Spanish team is in second place with 231 points and, depending on the results, could catch up to the leader who has 262.5. Regardless, to avoid relying on calculations, the goal will be to score as many points as possible.
Inaugurated in 2009, Yas Marina Circuit is gradually becoming a classic Middle Eastern circuit on the calendar. Located on Yas Island, which sees a massive presence of yachts in the areas surrounding the circuit, adding an extra touch of glamour and exclusivity, it has a length of 5,281 meters. Given that it is a counter-clockwise circuit, the right-front tire experiences the most wear, on asphalt that is not particularly abrasive for the tires. That said, high temperatures could be the biggest threat for tire wear and degradation.
Both free practice and the qualifying session will take place on Friday at 08:05 and 12:00 respectively. On Saturday, the sprint race will start at 13:15 while the main race on Sunday, with a mandatory pit stop for tire changes, will take place at 10:25. All times are in Spanish time zone.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "It has been a very intense year and the whole team is doing a great job. It promises to be an incredible season finale at Yas Marina Circuit. It is a circuit that we all know very well, so the differences should be minimal, and everything could be decided by the smallest details. We depend on ourselves. The key will be to avoid any mistakes and score more points than our rivals."
Pepe Martí (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 2): “I am super excited to be returning to Abu Dhabi, I’ve raced here in the past in different categories and was where I got my first taste of FIA F2 machinery last year. It’s going to be an exciting weekend with us fighting for the team’s championship and I will try to help out as much as I can following the team’s success this season.”
Photos: © Dutch Photo Agency
