The F2 Report: Title battle resumes at Abu Dhabi finale

Unlike last year, both the F2 Drivers' and Constructors' Championships are up for grabs this coming weekend. Every lap, every session will matter as the 22 drivers and 11 teams try to end the year on a high.

Contracts and future careers in Formula 1 and other prestigious racing series are on the line as the field of predominant youngsters look to cement themselves in motorsports history.

The previous round at Monza stirred up a few surprises. Namely, Championship contender Frederik Vesti crashing out before the Feature race even began. Much like in Italy, the weather should be dry for the finale, no surprises for a racetrack built on a desert.

News and fanfare have had two whole months to brew since the last event; let's go through the main talking point heading into the 2023 Yas Island FIA Formula 2 round.

ART Grand Prix's Theo Pourchaire leads the way in the Drivers' Standings with 191 points, but his Champion status is yet to be fully secured.

Despite PREMA Racing's Vesti's aforementioned retirement at the Monza round, he is still second in the Championship with DAMS driver Ayumu Iwasa still mathematically in with a chance to take the ultimate prize.

Despite the high stakes, Pourchaire enters the deciding round with a willingness and calmness signifying an aura of confidence. Speaking to F2 media, he said: "To be honest, I'm pretty calm. It’s been a long time since I last drove a race car. I just want to go to Abu Dhabi, get back in the car and drive."

"I have nothing to lose, even if I'm leading the Championship. Of course, I want to win it, but I want to enjoy this last race. I will be pushing all the way."

All three 2023 Formula 2 Championship contenders are affiliated with F1 outfits as Junior drivers. Pourchaire is part of the Sauber academy and recently drove the Alfa Romeo C43 during FP1 for the Mexico City Grand Prix. Vesti drove in the same session, replacing George Russell in the Mercedes as part of the Mercedes Junior programme. Iwasa is part of the Red Bull Junior Team.

Their final positioning in the Standings could play a big role in deciding their futures on the road to F1.

The Formula 2 Constructors' Championship is a two-way battle, with ART Grand Prix 26 points ahead of PREMA heading into the decider. With Pourchaire and Vesti already duking it out for the Drivers' Title, the teams will also be relying on second drivers Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) and Oliver Bearman (PREMA) to put in a solid weekend performance.

The 2024 Formula 2 season will see the debut of a completely new chassis, somewhat reminiscent of the current era of F1 machinery. Furthermore, several drivers have already been announced, with a few exciting fresh faces joining the grid for next year.

MP Motorsport's lineup is already confirmed, with Dennis Hauger remaining in the feeder series alongside Formula 3 graduate Franco Colapinto. Also coming from F3 will be Zak O'Sullivan, who will race for ART Grand Prix in 2024.

Highly rated Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been making waves in the junior scene, winning the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship at just 17 years of age. He will drive for PREMA in F2 next year, while Joshua Duerksen also makes the step up from the same series for PHM Racing.

Jak Crawford will stay in F2, but the team he will drive for is yet to be confirmed. Finally Super Formula champ Ritomo Miyata will compete in both F2 and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) at the same time.

F3's Paul Aron will race instead of Clement Novalak at Trident, but it's still unclear whether or not the Estonian has been promoted to F2 permanently.

Expect more announcements for the remaining vacant Formula 2 seats in the coming few months.

A lucky few will remain at Yas Marina Circuit following the conclusion of the Championship. They will take part in F1's annual post-season test, the so-called "Young Driver Test" at the same circuit.

Haas have announced PREMA's Oliver Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi as their two rookies, while Williams have decided to field O'Sullivan in their FW45.

Colapinto will take part in Free Practice One for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Vesti will have a second crack in the Mercedes W14, this time replacing Lewis Hamilton.

Expect several more F2 and F3 drivers to take part in the final FP1 of the campaign, as teams check the box for two mandated rookie driver sessions over the course of the year.