Hadjar, Martí, and Campos Racing will face a new challenge in the battle for the FIA Formula 2 drivers' and teams' championships this coming weekend in the Azerbaijani capital. Baku will host the penultimate round before the final sprint at the end of the year
Campos Racing will travel to Azerbaijan for the twelfth and antepenultimate round of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season, a critical event in the title fight. Alzira's team will again feature Isack Hadjar and Pepe Martí driving their 2024 Dallara F2 cars, two key players in the hunt for both the drivers' and teams' titles.
Hadjar is the driver with the most wins this year, with four victories, which keeps him at the top of the overall standings with 165 points. This is despite the mechanical issues that cost him valuable points early in the season and the misfortune he experienced at the most recent race in Monza. There, a safety car during the Sunday race, just after the Campos Racing driver had pitted while running in podium positions, ruined his strategy. Despite these setbacks, the driver who has won in Melbourne, Imola, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps, and who has secured three additional podiums, has proven to be the strongest overall in both practice and race conditions.
His teammate Martí will once again be a key asset in Baku. The rookie in the category, who has climbed the FIA Formula 2 podium three times so far, finished fourth a couple of weeks ago in Monza. On another high-speed circuit like the one in Azerbaijan, he will be a driver to watch out for by his rivals.
In the team standings, Campos Racing is currently in second place with 208 points, but close to the lead.
The Baku circuit, at 6,003 meters long, is the third longest in the FIA Formula 2 calendar and is well-known to the veterans. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track starts at Azadliq Square before tackling a long straight of approximately one kilometer. It also features low-speed sections, such as the one near the Maiden Tower. Excellent traction is needed to propel the cars out of the corners, and a stable car under braking is essential. The asphalt is not very abrasive, typical of a street circuit, and the cars use low aerodynamic downforce to maximize top speed on the straight.
Both free practice and the qualifying session will take place on Friday at 09:00 and 13:00, respectively. On Saturday, the sprint race will start at 12:15, while the main race on Sunday, with a mandatory pit stop for tire changes, will be held at 09:35. All times are in Spanish time.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "We have worked tirelessly over the past two weeks to prepare well for these two races in Baku. In Monza, luck was not on our side, even though we showed speed in both qualifying and the race. We want to return to our best form in Azerbaijan and score the maximum points possible."
Isack Hadjar (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 2): "Baku is one of the most enjoyable circuits to race at, reaching highest speed of the season between walls. We had a tough weekend in Monza and we are determined to bounce back on the top step.”
Pepe Martí (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 2): "Very excited to be racing in Baku, it's a new track for me and I can't wait to get back on track after the week break between here and Monza. It's a very fast street track so it will be fun to check it out and test the limits.”
Photos: © Dutch Photo Agency
