F2 winner who beat Liam Lawson ‘in the raffle’ for 2025 F1 seat ahead of Mexico City Grand Prix outing

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Kimi Antonelli leads a crop of young drivers who will take part in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend. F1 teams are obliged to run a rookie in both of their cars over the course of the season.

Mexico is round 20 out of 24, so they’re running out of time to fulfil this requirement. Mercedes will be able to tick the box thanks to Antonelli, who’s back in the car after crashing 10 minutes into his Monza debut.

F2 teammate Oliver Bearman will continue his preparations for his 2025 debut with Haas as he replaces Charles Leclerc at Ferrari for the session. Bearman has already driven the SF-24 in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix following the hospitalisation of Carlos Sainz.

Championship leaders McLaren will field Pato O’Ward in his homeland. The 25-year-old has finished in the top five of the IndyCar championship in four of the last five seasons.

Elsewhere, Robert Shwartzman makes his second appearance of the season for Sauber. Shwartzman previously featured at the Dutch GP in August.

The Israeli isn’t thought to be a contender for the vacancy at Hinwil alongside Nico Hulkenberg. Valtteri Bottas is trying to hold onto that seat amid strong competition.

Felipe Drugovich a contender to replace Valtteri Bottas at Sauber

Speaking on the Formel Schmidt podcast, Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt named the drivers who could take Bottas’ spot for 2025. The list includes Franco Colapinto, who’s been a revelation since replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams.

F2 leader Gabriel Bortoleto is also included, along with the former Haas driver Mick Schumacher. But Felipe Drugovich is still in the race too.

Aston Martin reserve driver Drugovich won the F2 title in 2022. That was a field that included Liam Lawson, who could partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year, and Jack Doohan, signed by Alpine.

Mattia Binotto may be closely watching how Drugovich gets on behind the wheel of Fernando Alonso’s car on Friday. It will be his fourth FP1 outing after previous runs at Yas Marina (x2) and Monza.

Schmidt said: “It starts with Mick Schumacher, of course. We have Colapinto, we have Bortoleto, we have Drugovich, who’s also in the raffle. We even take a look at Alex Palou again. There are various possibilities.”

Peter Windsor’s ‘heartbreaking’ admission about Felipe Drugovich

Drugovich is of course contracted to Aston Martin but it’s hard to imagine Lawrence Stroll blocking an exit. Alonso has recently signed a two-year contract extension alongside the owner’s son Lance.

There’s no indication that Drugovich is seen as a long-term successor either. Indeed, Aston Martin want to sign Max Verstappen, which suggests they’re shopping for established superstars as they go in search of a world championship.

Since the F2 rebrand in 2017, three champions have graduated straight to F1 – Charles Leclerc in 2018, George Russell in 2019 and Mick Schumacher in 2021. Oscar Piastri had to wait a year, Nyck de Vries had to wait three and Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire haven’t had a chance at all.

That could still change. Peter Windsor says it’s ‘heartbreaking’ to see Drugovich watching F1 races from the Aston Martin garage given the talent he’s displayed.