In the world of motorsports, there have been numerous drivers who have taken different paths to reach Formula 1. While some, like Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll, chose to bypass the F2 series due to their exceptional talent and financial backing, the majority of drivers have utilized F2 as a stepping stone towards their F1 dreams. Out of the seven F2 Champions, only Charles Leclerc (2017) and George Russell (2018) have managed to achieve success in the pinnacle of motorsport by winning races.
Apart from Leclerc and Russell, the only other F2 Champion who currently has a seat in F1 is Oscar Piastri, who claimed the title in 2021. Nyck de Vries (2019) and Mick Schumacher (2020) have had their stints in F1 but have since moved on, while Felipe Drugovich (2022) and the reigning F1 Champion Théo Pourchaire are still striving to secure a permanent spot in the top flight of racing.
Before the inception of the GP2 Series in 2005, the first champion of its predecessor, the European F2 Championship, was Nico Rosberg in 2005. The following year, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the boss of Formula 1. Both Rosberg and Hamilton went on to become F1 World Champions, with the latter achieving a remarkable 103 victories and aiming for an unprecedented eighth title.
Other notable champions from the GP2 Series who subsequently competed in F1 for at least one season include Timo Glock (2007), Nico Hulkenberg (2009), Pastor Maldonado (2010), Romain Grosjean (2011), Jolyon Palmer (2014), Stoffel Vandoorne (2015), and the most recent GP2 Series Champion, Pierre Gasly. Gasly is currently the only former GP2 Series Champion who is still actively racing in F1, alongside Hamilton.
The transition from the European F2 Championship to the GP2 Series marked a significant turning point in the history of motorsport. On September 11, 2004, during the Formula 3000 race at Monza, Christian Horner’s Arden International team emerged victorious with Vitantonio Liuzzi behind the wheel. This race signaled the end of the European F2 Championship, which had been in existence since 1985.
Subsequently, the dawn of the GP2 era began in 2005, thanks to the vision of Bruno Michel and Flavio Briatore, with the support of Bernie Ecclestone. The GP2 Series introduced a standardized format, with all drivers competing in identical cars, equipped with the same engine, tires, and chassis. This spec series aimed to provide young and aspiring drivers with the platform to showcase their skills and potentially follow in the footsteps of legendary figures like Michael Schumacher and Jim Clark.
In the first season of GP2 in 2005, there were 12 rounds of races. Each round consisted of a Feature race and a Sprint race, except for the Monaco round which only had a Feature race. The field of drivers included Scott Speed from California, who was a Red Bull junior. Additionally, there were three drivers who were sons of former F1 champions: Nelson Piquet Jr., Mathias Lauda, and Nico Rosberg. The drivers came from various countries around the world, including Argentina, Malaysia, Turkey, Japan, and Venezuela.
The first ever GP2 race took place on April 23, 2005, at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. French driver Nicolas Lapierre secured pole position, while Ernesto Viso from Venezuela set the fastest lap. The winner of the race was Heikki Kovalainen, who was the Formula Renault 3.5 Champion and managed by Briatore.
Kovalainen had a strong start to the season, winning three out of the first five Feature races. Rosberg, on the other hand, had to wait until Round 5 at Magny-Cours to secure his first win in the Sprint race. In the second half of the season, Rosberg performed exceptionally well, winning the next two Feature races at Silverstone and Hockenheimring.
Kovalainen kept his championship hopes alive by winning the Sprint race at the Istanbul circuit and followed it up with a victory in the Feature race at Monza. However, it was Rosberg who ultimately became the first-ever GP2 Champion by winning both the Sprint and Feature races at the season finale in Bahrain. He scored a total of 120 points, with Kovalainen finishing in second place with 105 points.
Rosberg’s success in GP2 earned him a spot at Williams in Formula 1, the same team his father had won the World Championship with in 1982. Lewis Carl Hamilton, supported by McLaren and Mercedes, joined ART Grand Prix for the 2006 GP2 season, replacing Rosberg.
The 2006 GP2 season consisted of 11 rounds, with Monaco once again only featuring a Feature race. The season began in Valencia under the Spanish sunshine, and Piquet Jr., who was in his second year of GP2 and the pre-season favorite, won the opening race. In only his second GP2 start, Michael Ammermüller emerged victorious in the sprint race.
Round 3 at the Nürburgring was dominated by Hamilton, who won both the Feature and Sprint races. He continued his success by winning the prestigious round in Monaco from pole position and then triumphing at Silverstone by winning both races of the weekend. One of the highlights of the Silverstone round was a pass between Piquet Jr. and Clivio Piccione.
Although Hamilton did not win again in GP2 after Silverstone, his most impressive performance of the year came in the sprint race at the Istanbul circuit. Despite spinning and falling behind, he managed to recover and finish as high as second place.
Despite Piquet Jr. winning half of the last six races, it was Hamilton who ultimately claimed the title with 114 points, compared to Piquet Jr.’s 102 points.
The 2007 season of the GP2 racing series once again showcased a diverse lineup of drivers from various countries, including Russia, India, Turkey, and China, in addition to the usual European and South American competitors. Spanning across 11 rounds, the Monaco race deviated from tradition by excluding a Sprint race. Towards the end of the season, both Flavio Briatore and Ron Dennis expressed their disappointment in the lack of talented drivers in the field. This sentiment was supported by the fact that out of the 30+ drivers who participated in the GP2 that season, only one driver, Pastor Maldonado, went on to win a Grand Prix.
Timo Glock, a German driver, emerged as the champion of the GP2 Series in 2007, securing five victories over Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi. Glock’s sole triumph of the season occurred during the Feature race in Turkey. Dallara, the exclusive chassis supplier for both the current Formula 2 and its predecessor GP2, introduced a new car for 10 rounds in the 2008 season. Notably, Monaco hosted both Sprint and Feature races for the first time.
Apart from Maldonado, 10 drivers from the 2007 season went on to compete in Formula 1 with limited success. Karting prodigy Pantano clinched the championship with four wins, surpassing Bruno Senna. The GP2 and F2 championships have become crucial stepping stones for aspiring drivers before entering the realm of Formula 1. A prevailing trend suggests that winning the championship in the first year often leads to securing a place in a reputable team in the top tier of motorsport. This pattern is exemplified by the likes of Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri, who all claimed the title in their debut attempts. It comes as no surprise that drivers who took two or more years to win the championship at this level have struggled to replicate the success achieved by the aforementioned champions in their first year.
Pierre Gasly, for instance, triumphed in the championship during his second full season, while Nyck de Vries required three years to accomplish the same feat. Mick Schumacher achieved victory in his second attempt. In contrast, both Maldonado and Felipe Drugovich secured the championship in their fourth year, while it took Davide Valsecchi five seasons to claim the GP2 championship.
In the case of Nico Hulkenberg, the driver who was previously managed by Willi Weber, he won the GP2 championship in 2009 during his initial attempt. Hulkenberg had also achieved championship success in the F3 Euro series and Formula BMW. Despite his decade-long presence in the competitive world of motorsport, Hulkenberg has yet to step foot on a Formula 1 podium. It is worth noting that in the era of F1 dominated by wealthy individuals, Hulkenberg has managed to sustain his career without significant financial backing.
Conversely, drivers like Valsecchi and Fabio Leimer, who won the GP2 championship in 2012 and 2013 respectively, never had the opportunity to compete in a single Grand Prix. Stoffel Vandoorne, the 2015 GP2 Champion, experienced a junior career akin to that of Hamilton, triumphing in various championships before reaching Formula 1. However, his time in the top tier of motorsport was marred by two major setbacks, including being teammates with Fernando Alonso and driving a car equipped with a lackluster “GP2” engine.
Formula 2, formerly known as GP2, underwent a name change for the 2017 racing season. The rebranded series has seen two consecutive rookie champions, Charles Leclerc and George Russell, who have both achieved victories in Formula 1. These talented drivers are poised to become world champions once the dominance of Red Bull Racing and their star driver, Max Verstappen, comes to an end.
Joining Leclerc and Russell in the ranks of rookie champions is Oscar Piastri. Although he may not secure a championship in his papaya-colored car, the Australian driver has the potential to deliver impressive results given a competitive vehicle.
Interestingly, the only two world champions that GP2 has produced thus far are Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, both of whom were champions in the early years of the series. It is also worth noting that two other drivers, who were part of the Red Bull Junior program, achieved Formula 1 world championships without ever competing in GP2.
Sebastian Vettel, for instance, secured four consecutive Formula 1 championships from 2010 to 2013. Prior to his Grand Prix career, he briefly competed in Formula Renault 3.5 as per the recommendation of his team.
History appears to be repeating itself, as Max Verstappen is currently on track to claim his fourth consecutive title at an astonishing pace. Similar to Vettel, the talented Dutchman was propelled into Formula 1 by the same influential figure after just one year in single-seater racing.
In conclusion, whether it be GP2 or Formula 2, Formula 3 or Formula Renault 3.5, it is evident that the most talented drivers will always rise to the top.