F2 News: Bortoleto wins title after finishing second to Duerksen

Gabriel Bortoleto made it back-to-back Championship victories in rookie seasons, winning the 2024 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship in the title decider at Yas Marina, helping Invicta Racing claim their first Teams’ title also.

Joshua Duerksen was the winner of the race, adding a second victory to his rookie record with AIX Racing, while Richard Verschoor made the alternative strategy work to complete the podium in third for MP Motorsport.

AS IT HAPPENED

As the lights went out, Martins was slow to get away and that allowed Bortoleto to sweep into the lead. Title rival Isack Hadjar’s dreams were effectively over immediately, however, after stalling from third on the grid.

Hadjar’s Campos Racing teammate Josep María Martí went side-by-side with Kush Maini through Turns 1 to 5, but the Invicta sealed second position into Turn 6. Joshua Duerksen then moved himself up to third at Turn 9, surging around Martí.

Maini, Duerksen and Martins were the first to pit from the top 10 on Lap 7. On pit exit, The AIX driver ran wide at Turn 3 to open the door for Martins to re-pass him into Turn 5. Through sector two though, Duerksen fought back to re-take the place. A slow stop for Maini however left him down the back of the field.

Race leader Bortoleto was in on the following lap to switch to the Medium tires, rejoining just ahead of Duerksen. A lock-up for the Brazilian at Turn 6 gave the AIX driver an opening, and a further lock-up into Turn 9 by Bortoleto meant the Paraguayan took the effective race lead. With his tires also up to temperature, Martins cleared the Invicta driver before the end of the lap.

Running the alternative strategy, Martí lead by 2.8s ahead of Richard Verschoor, after the MP driver put a move on Amaury Cordeel at Turn 9 to take second on the road on Lap 12.

While the race had settled into a rhythm in the middle phase, the lead was being reduced lap after lap as Verschoor closed to within striking distance of leader Martí, and he moved into P1 on Lap 18 with a pass at Turn 6.

Duerksen had been comfortable but became stuck behind the yet-to-pit Max Esterson, sixth on the road for Trident. That allowed Martins and Bortoleto to close back in on him on Lap 23 before the Paraguayan cleared the American at Turn 6. The Trident driver pitted at the end of the lap to leave the effective top three covered by 2.5s with 10 laps to go.

A few laps later, Duerksen struggled to clear another car on the alternative strategy, this time in the form of Luke Browning. After he, Martins and Bortoleto passed the Briton on Lap 27, the gap between the trio fell to just two seconds.

Verschoor was in from the lead on Lap 27 for his mandatory stop, and he rejoined sixth in the order on the Supersoft tires.

Duerksen was able to escape up the road after clearing the traffic and retaking the race lead, but Martins was under pressure for second. With DRS on Lap 29, Bortoleto claimed P2 into Turn 9, with 2.3s to make up to the Paraguayan driver in P1.

Verschoor was hugely quick on the softer compound, and he quickly cleared Bearman for fourth place on Lap 30.

What had been a 4.6s gap to Martins was then under a second as they commenced the final lap as the ART driver ran wide at the final corner. Verschoor claimed third at the first corner on the final lap.

Duerksen couldn’t be caught though, as he notched up his second victory of 2024 and his maiden Feature Race success.

Bortoleto crossed the line behind Duerksen to be crowned 2024 F2 Drivers’ Champion with his second P2 finish of the weekend.

Verschoor rounded out the rostrum positions, with Martins and Bearman completing the top five.

Martí recovered to sixth also on the alternative strategy, with Dino Beganovic, Amaury Cordeel, Oliver Goethe and Ritomo Miyata the points scorers in seventh to tenth.

KEY QUOTE – Joshua Duerksen, AIX Racing

“Finishing the season with a Feature Race win, P1. I’m extremely happy. I actually didn’t know my position until the last lap, so that was a bit of a surprise for me. Really thankful to Jesus because he gave me this victory and to the team, they gave me a perfect car and of course very happy for Gabriel who won the Championship, so I congratulate him as well and all the Brazilian fans.”

CHAMPION’S QUOTE – Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing

“F2 Champion… Thank you for everyone supporting me this season. Couldn’t be happier than I am right now. Congratulations to Joshua for his first Feature Race win. Super proud, now let’s enjoy. Obrigado to all the Brazilian fans and I’ll see you in F1.”

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Gabriel Bortoleto becomes the latest driver after Oscar Piastri to go back-to-back in FIA F3 and F2, claiming the Championship in his rookie season. He ends 2024 on 214.5 points in P1. Isack Hadjar finishes as runner-up with 192, with Paul Aron third on 163. Zane Maloney is P4 on 140 with Jak Crawford fifth on 125 points.

Invicta Racing win the Teams’ title to make it a sweep in 2024 on 288.5 points. Campos Racing finish up second on 254, while MP Motorsport finish up third with 220.5 points.

UP NEXT

The 2024 Formula 2 season is in the books, but drivers return to the track later in the week for post-season testing around the Yas Marina Circuit from December 11-13.

2024 F2 Abu Dhabi Feature Race Results – 33 Laps