F2 title in sight for Drugovich, but no F1

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Felipe Drugovich took his fifth win of the season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship on Sunday in Zandvoort, the Brazilian putting a tight grid on a title that could be his next weekend at Monza.

Drugovich raced through a red flag and two safety car periods to deliver a lights-to-flag home win to his MP Motorsport outfit, with Trident's Richard Verschoor and Dams' Ayumu Iwasa completing the feature race podium.

Sadly, Drugovich is hardly ever hardly mentioned as a candidate to fill a seat in Formula 1 in 2023.

The 22-year-old has progressed through motorsport's junior series outside of any team or manufacturer's driver academy, which inevitably has its drawbacks when a promotion is warranted and support is required, although it also makes Drugovich a free agent.

"I think getting to F1 nowadays is very very difficult and it's looking like the opportunities for a main seat in F1 next year are obviously very limited," the Brazilian said in Spa last weekend.

"I think there is still the potential for a reserve seat somewhere so we need to try and look at that and find maybe a reserve seat somewhere.

"Other than that, there are other categories that we can drive in somewhere else.

"But for now, I am focused on this championship, trying to win it, and hopefully this result might get me to F1 someday. Nothing to worry about now."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.