In the 2024 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship decider at Yas Marina, Gabriel Bortoleto achieved an astonishing feat by making it back-to-back Championship victories in his rookie season. This remarkable success not only helped Invicta Racing claim their first Teams’ title but also left a lasting mark on the racing world.

The Rookie's Double Victory in Formula 2

Lead at the Start

As the lights went out, Martins faced a sluggish start, allowing Bortoleto to seize the lead effortlessly. Title rival Isack Hadjar's dreams were shattered immediately as he stalled from third on the grid. This early advantage set the stage for an intense battle throughout the race.The first few laps saw a flurry of action as Josep María Martí went side-by-side with Kush Maini through Turns 1 to 5. However, the Invicta driver sealed second position into Turn 6. Joshua Duerksen then made his move, surging around Martí at Turn 9 and climbing to third.

Pit Stops and Strategy

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, opening the door for Martins to re-pass him into Turn 5. But through sector two, Duerksen fought back and re-took the place. A slow stop for Maini left him down the back of the field.Race leader Bortoleto pitted on the following lap to switch to the Medium tyres and rejoined just ahead of Duerksen. A lock-up for the Brazilian at Turn 6 gave Duerksen an opening, and a further lock-up into Turn 9 by Bortoleto meant the Paraguayan took the effective race lead. With his tyres also up to temperature, Martins cleared the Invicta driver before the end of the lap.

Middle Phase and Close Battles

Hadjar's hopes for the title were over at lights out as he stalled from P3 on the grid. Running the alternative strategy, Martí led 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, the race settled into a rhythm.However, the lead was being reduced lap after lap as Verschoor closed in on leader Martí. He moved into P1 on Lap 18 with a pass at Turn 6. Duerksen was comfortable but became stuck behind the yet-to-pit Max Esterson in sixth. This 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, leaving 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 rejoined sixth in the order on the Supersoft tyres.

Final Laps and Victory

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 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. Martins ran wide at the final corner, allowing Verschoor to claim 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 Quotes and Championship Standings

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 show Gabriel Bortoleto becoming 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.