Formula 2, or GP2 as it was once known, has always been perceived as the final stepping stone for young drivers before Formula One. In reality, however, this isn’t always the case. For starters, not every driver gets the opportunity to showcase their talents in F2. They instead do this elsewhere in series such as Formula 3/GP3, Formula E and, the now defunct, Formula Renault 3.5; for example. As for the lucky few that do find themselves putting on a show for the F1 team bosses, a championship win doesn’t necessarily mean an F1 seat is theirs. So, where are the previous GP2/Formula 2 champions today? Let’s take a look at the three who have never made the step up to race in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Davide Valsecchi
After joining GP2 in 2008 with the Durango team, it would be four years later, in 2012, when Davide Valsecchi would take his championship win. The Italian driver had already spent some time in Formula One; taking part in the 2010 Young Driver Test, before acting as a test driver for Team Lotus in 2011, which included a stint in the car for FP1 at that year’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
After winning his GP2 title, his main aim was a full time drive in F1. And, although for 2013 he was hired as Lotus F1’s test and reserve driver; he wasn’t picked by the team to replace Kimi Raikkonen, who would be sitting out the final two races of that season. Instead it was ex-Formula One driver; Heikki Kovalainen, who was chosen to fill the void. A move in which Valsecchi was extremely critical about and no doubt played a part as to why he was replaced as reserve driver for the following season. Instead, Valsecchi drove for Lamborghini in the 2014 GT Open Series Championship.
From 2016 onwards, Valsecchi found himself in front of the camera rather than behind a steering wheel, appearing regularly as a commentator and analyst for Sky Sports F1 and Formula 2. He quickly gained recognition for his excitable personality. However, in 2023, after the Spanish Grand Prix, Valsecchi, along with another journalist, found themselves suspended from Sky Italia after making sexist comments in the post-race show.
He has not raced professionally since 2016.
Fabio Leimer
Swiss driver; Fabio Leimer, made his GP2 debut with Ocean Racing Technology in 2010. After a move, in 2011, to the Rapax team, Leimer clenched the title with them in 2013.
The following year, having no connection with an F1 team, Leimer raced in the World Endurance Championship, which included a stint in the Le Mans 24 Hours. A year later, in 2015, he was due to race in the Super Formula in Japan. However, he found himself without a contract after financial issues arose. It wasn’t all “doom and gloom” for the Swiss in 2015. Not only did he join Formula E’s Virgin Racing team, he also found himself as the new reserve driver for Formula One’s Manor Marussia F1 Team; getting a stint in the car during FP1 at that year’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Leimer would not continue with the team in 2016 after they received new owners. The team folded at the end of 2016.
Unfortunately, Leimer’s time in Formula E was nothing to shout about either, having replaced Jaime Alguersauri for the final two races of the season. He came away pointless and wasn’t retained for the following year. In 2016 and 2017, he raced in the Ferrari Challenge Europe series before stepping down as a professional racing driver.
He has since done some work as a commentator but seems to live a relatively quiet life away from social media.
Felipe Drugovich
Felipe Drugovich is the reigning Formula 2 Champion who joined the series in 2020. With his championship win being so recent, the Brazilian driver has yet had the chance to establish himself in F1.
Two days after he won the championship, Drugovich was announced as a new member of the AMF1 Driver Development programme. He also became Aston Martin F1 Team’s reserve driver, getting his first taste of the machinery at a test in Silverstone during November 2022. He was retained by the team for 2023 in a joint reserve role with Formula E World Champion; Stoffel Vandoorne.
Aston Martin race driver; Lance Stroll, was unable to partake in the first session of the 2023 pre-season test due a bike injury. Instead, Drugovich got the call, competing a total of 117 laps.
He has also since raced in the 2023 Race of Champions and taken part in a Formula E test as well as some stock car racing in Brazil.
So that’s that. The only three GP2/Formula 2 champions to never race in F1. Were their championship wins at the wrong time? Possibly. Will we see another champion added to this list at the end of this season? It’s hard to tell. With so many Formula 2 drivers associated with F1 teams and only 20 F1 seats available; who knows what will happen.
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