Hadjar and Campos Racing arrive in Italy leading the drivers' and teams' standings with the goal of extending their leads. Martí, after the summer break, also returns with renewed energy for this final sprint of four races
After three weeks away from competition, the engines will roar once again this weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, a true sanctuary of speed and the venue for the eleventh round of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season. Campos Racing will head to northern Italy with maximum ambition and confidence thanks to the outstanding results achieved so far with their two drivers, Isack Hadjar and Pepe Martí. The Alzira-based team leads both the drivers’ and teams’ championships, and the goal, especially in the latter, is to solidify those leads with just four rounds remaining in the season.
Hadjar is undoubtedly the most solid and effective driver on the grid this year, as evidenced by his 165 points, 36 more than his closest rival, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoletto. Despite some mechanical issues early in the season, caused by the newness of the Dallara F2 2024 cars, which cost the Frenchman some points, he has bounced back with four wins (the first in Melbourne, followed by triumphs in Imola, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps) and three more podiums (Monaco, Red Bull Ring, and Hungaroring), catapulting him to the top of the standings. Hadjar will look to position himself among the frontrunners again and continue his streak of strong results.
Meanwhile, Martí is also eagerly looking forward to this final sprint of the season. In his debut season in FIA Formula 2, like Hadjar, he represents Red Bull colors in his car. The young talent from Barcelona has already secured three podium finishes: a second place and a third in Sakhir and another third in Spielberg. Given that Martí is well-acquainted with Monza, he will be another driver to watch closely this weekend.
In the teams’ standings, Campos Racing holds the top spot with 203 points, tied with Invicta Racing.
Monza is one of the names synonymous with motorsport itself. Inaugurated in 1922, it is the third-oldest permanent circuit in the world, only behind Brooklands and Indianapolis. It is the classic venue for the Italian Grand Prix, which this weekend will celebrate its 95th edition. The Lombardy circuit is characterized by its high speeds, thanks to long straights interrupted by chicanes like the Rettifilo, Variante della Roggia, and Variante Ascari. Additionally, most of the corners are very fast, such as the Parabolica-Michele Alboreto and Curva Biassono. As for the weather, the current forecast indicates sunny conditions and high temperatures.
Both the free practice session and the qualifying session will take place on Friday at 11:00 and 16:00, respectively. On Saturday, the sprint race will start at 14:15, while the main race, featuring a mandatory pit stop for tire changes, will take place at 10:05. All times are in Spanish time zone.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): “After these weeks to recharge our batteries, though not to rest, we are heading into another round of the FIA F2 season. The results have been favorable so far, and we are having a great year, as shown by our lead in both championship standings. Monza will be another tough test for everyone, with minimal gaps and very tactical races where slipstreaming plays a key role in managing the different situations. That said, I have no doubt that we’ll be right in the mix once again.”
Isack Hadjar (Campos Racing driver in FIA Formula 2): “Feels amazing to be back racing after this summer break. Monza always delivers spectacular races, so it is all to play for! Target is unchanged, let’s go!”
Pepe Martí (Campos Racing driver in FIA Formula 2): “Very happy to be back behind the wheel after the long summer break. Monza is a fantastic track and with the recent changes to the layout it will be interesting to discover. Looking forward to it!”
Photos: © Dutch Photo Agency
