As the FIA Formula 2 grid returns to Spa-Francorchamps, memories of last year’s chaos ahead of yet another defining weekend in the championship. The iconic circuit delivered on its reputation with mixed weather, strategic gambles, and a fierce title fight between Isack Hadjar, Paul Aron, and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Before the 2025 action gets underway, let’s take a look back at everything that unfolded at Spa last season.
Qualifying Recap: Aron takes control
Qualifying in 2024 was a tightly contested session, with Paul Aron delivering a standout performance. The Hitech Pulse-Eight driver secured pole position with a rapid 1:56.959, marking his third pole of the season. Aron dominated the middle sector and held off strong challenges from his rivals.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualified second, just 0.168s behind Aron, while championship leader Isack Hadjar secured third. The close margins set the stage for a high-stakes Feature Race, with the top three title contenders occupying the first three grid spots.
Wet-weather Sprint ends under red flag
As often seen in the Ardennes, rain played a major role in the F2 Belgian Grand Prix 2024 Sprint Race. Rain hit the track hard, and the race was eventually red-flagged after Lap 8. Zak O’Sullivan, starting from reverse grid pole, managed the early laps expertly before conditions deteriorated.
With fewer than half of the race distance completed, the results were declared early. The Art driver O’Sullivan took the win, with Dennis Hauger second and Richard Verschoor third. Zane Maloney and Jak Crawford completed the top five in a race that awarded only half points due to the curtailed distance.
Hadjar extends lead with Feature Race victory
Sunday’s Feature Race saw much more action and clearer conditions. Aron initially led from pole, but an early Safety Car bunched up the field after an incident on Lap 1. Isack Hadjar quickly moved forward, overtaking Bortoleto and then Aron on lap 8 to take control of the race.
Opting for a slightly later stop on Lap 10, Bortoleto rejoined three seconds behind Hadjar and Aron, a strategic move that gave him a tyre advantage in the closing stages. Thanks to his fresher tyres, the Invicta Racing driver quickly began closing the gap. By Lap 16 of 25, Bortoleto was within DRS range of Aron and capitalised on the run down the Kemmel Straight to move up into second on Lap 17.
Though Bortoleto inched closer to Hadjar and briefly entered DRS range, the Frenchman responded decisively. Hadjar managed his tyres well and steadily pulled away in the final laps, eventually crossing the line over two seconds clear to secure a crucial victory. The win gave Hadjar a commanding 36-point lead heading into the summer break.
Aron, meanwhile, looked set to complete the podium but suffered a mechanical issue on the final lap, forcing him to retire. That misfortune promoted Jak Crawford to third, ensuring a valuable podium finish for the American driver.
Last years F2 Belgian Grand Prix reminded everyone why Spa remains a test of driver skill, weather adaptability, and strategy. As the 2025 grid returns, rookies and veterans alike will be looking to master the challenges of Spa, with the championship battle as tight as ever in the Ardennes.
