Fornaroli crowned F2 champion – but left without an F1 future

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Leonardo Fornaroli capped a remarkable rookie season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Invicta Racing by sealing on Sunday the 2025 championship with a round to spare under the lights of Losail, finishing second behind race winner Victor Martins.

The 20-year-old Italian’s consistency proved decisive as his closest rivals faltered: Jak Crawford slipped to 11th, Richard Verschoor managed only sixth, and Fornaroli’s points lead became untouchable – barring a remote post-race penalty twist involving Arvid Lindblad.

The triumph crowns a rapid rise through the junior ranks. Just like his predecessor at Invicta, Gabriel Bortoleto, Fornaroli now owns back-to-back F3 and F2 titles. Yet their paths could diverge sharply from here.

While the Brazilian stepped straight into Formula 1 with Sauber, Fornaroli faces a far more uncertain future: he does not hold a contract with any F1 team.

It’s a jarring contrast for a young talent that has delivered so much. Fornaroli clinched last year’s F3 crown without a win, then answered critics this season with four victories – including a commanding feature race triumph in Hungary – and relentless points scoring that kept him ahead of more experienced rivals like the five-season veteran Verschoor.

But as the celebrations erupted in Qatar, the bigger question lingered: what comes next for the newly crowned champion who, despite proving himself again and again, has no clear route to the F1 grid?

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.