FIA Formula 2 - drivers to watch as 2025 season gets underway at Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE–After a series of promotions to Formula One, the 2025 FIA Formula 2 grid also has a new look with 10 rookies stepping up to the world's premier feeder series.

Jak Crawford is the highest returning driver on the grid after a handful of promotions to Formula 1 from last year. The 19-year-old American finished fifth in last year's championship.

Among the returning crew, Roman Staněk is the only driver to have claimed victory in Melbourne before after taking out last year's sprint race, while Crawford and Kush Maini are the only other drivers to have finished on the podium at Albert Park.

Italian Leonardo Fornaroli gained his promotion to Formula 2 after taking out the 2024 FIA Formula 3 season, the first driver to win that championship without a single race victory. His consistency will make him a standout in the upcoming F2 contest.

Other rookies to look out for include fellow Italian Gabriele Minì, who was runner up to Fornaroli last year and has moved up to Invicta racing's Formula 2 garage, and Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, who began his year winning the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship in dominant fashion.

The 2025 FIA Formula 2 championship begins on Saturday with the sprint race underway at 2.15pm AEDT, and the feature race at 11.30am on Sunday.

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