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Newly-crowned Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich says he is still pursuing an F1 race seat for 2023, but is also looking at options as a reserve driver.Drugovich sealed the F2 title following today’s Monza sprint race, with three races left to go this season. “I think it takes a bit of time to sink in and you actually realise you’re the champion,” he said.
“I think when you start you always have a dream of being in F1, but then going through you realise how difficult it is to be an F2 champion as well. It is everything you can do to match that dream and suddenly it just becomes a dream as well to be F2 champion.”
The 22-year-old, who is not backed by a Formula 1 team, saw off a clutch of rivals who are to claim the title. They include Théo Pourchaire, who is backed by Sauber which runs Alfa Romeo’s F1 team and Williams junior Logan Sargeant.
Also racing in F2 this year are Alpine Academy member Jack Doohan and Red Bull Junior Team quartet Liam Lawson, Ayumu Iwasa, Jehan Daruvala and Dennis Hauger. Mercedes protegé Frederick Vesti is also on the F2 grid.
Despite not being connected formally to any F1 team, Drugovich said he is still pursuing opportunities within the F1 paddock for next year. “There’s a few places still available in F1,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s very difficult to get to the main seat. We’re trying but if not we’re going to try to get a reserve seat. But for the moment I’m just trying to get that main seat.”
If he does take a reserve role, Drugovich said he intends to follow the example of 2019 champion Nyck de Vries, who is making his F1 debut this as a substitute, by combining it with other driving to remain competitive.
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“I think if you if you have a reserve role, you need to keep driving,” Drugovich said. “I think [De Vries] has done that, he was reserve for a long time. But also driving in Formula E for example, he was reserve but he was also testing a lot. You need to keep doing something because only the reserve role is not enough and it’s just a disaster for the driver, if you have a reserve role and stay stopped.
“So I think I would consider something like that. But first of all, we need to put it the first place a Formula 1 plan and just try to be there one day and we can supplement that somehow.”
Drugovich watched the race that crowned him champion from the MP Motorsport pit wall, having…
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