Hitech gear up for crucial Qatar showdown in F2 title fight
Round 13 - Lusail - Preview
Ten weeks since we last raced in Baku, the 2025 Formula 2 Championship reignites this weekend at the Lusail International Circuit for the penultimate round of the season, and Hitech arrive at the heart of the title fight.
With just four races remaining in the 2025 season, the heat is on as Luke Browning, currently sitting third in the standings, fights to close the 27-point gap to the championship leader. Meanwhile, Dino Beganovic arrives riding the momentum of his maiden F2 win and double podium in Azerbaijan, looking to continue his strong form.
On the team front, Hitech remains second in the Teams’ Championship, just 12 points from the top and poised for a decisive weekend.
Lusail is a track that rewards precision, endurance, and racecraft – critical qualities in any championship fight. Its flowing layout demands a delicate aerodynamic balance: enough downforce to tackle the sweeping high-speed corners, but low drag to maximise speed along the two straights, each over a kilometre in length. Managing these competing demands is a true test of both engineering and driver skill.
Adding further complexity, the abrasive track surface challenges tyre durability – especially the front-left, which faces intense lateral forces through the fast turns. The evening conditions for Qualifying and the Sprint Race will bring a significant drop in ambient temperature, affecting warm-up and grip consistency, and requiring teams to carefully manage tyre performance.
Despite it being the series’ first visit to Qatar, last year Hitech gained a good understanding of Lusail’s unique demands. This helped the team secure pole position and front-running race pace, laying the foundation for a strong points haul.
The 2025 Title Battle – Luke’s Chance to Close In
For Luke Browning, Lusail represents a crucial opportunity to close the gap to the championship leader after a strong debut F2 season. It was a mixed weekend for him in Baku, but he ultimately secured a second-place finish in the Feature Race. Heading into the Qatar GP weekend, Luke is determined and confident that the team’s pace here, along with the lessons from last year, will be pivotal in his title fight.
Luke Browning:
“Coming into the last few rounds, everything comes down to making the best of every opportunity. This is a track where the team showed great pace last year – pole position and strong races – so with all the hard work and preparation of the past couple of months, I’m feeling confident. The challenge will be to maximise qualifying, then have a couple of clean races. Every point is crucial, and I’m ready to push hard and fight for the title.”
Dino: Building Momentum and Fighting for Every Point
Lusail was where Dino Beganovic’s F2 journey began last year – a weekend that saw him qualify P4 and battle at the front – so he knows what to expect and is feeling confident heading into this race. His breakthrough weekend in Baku marked a turning point in his season. Now eighth in the standings and brimming with confidence, Lusail offers him a chance to keep climbing and contribute vital points to the team’s championship push.
Dino Beganovic via DinoRacing.se:
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on track. While it’s been a long break since that great weekend in Baku, I do feel the momentum is still there, and we’ll be aiming to draw on that in these final two rounds of the season.”
Dino continued:
“I had a very strong weekend in Qatar last year. The same goes for Abu Dhabi a week later where I then picked up my first F2 podium. These will be the first tracks I return to with previous F2 experience, and hopefully I can use that knowledge to good effect. I’m determined to pick up where we left off in Baku; I really want to end this season on a high.”
The Team’s Drive to the Finish
As Hitech’s F2 Team Manager, Clive Hatton understands just how finely balanced both championships are and how crucial Lusail will be in deciding the season’s outcome.
Clive Hatton:
“With Luke just 27 points from the lead and Dino closing in on the top drivers, this is a crucial weekend for the team. Lusail is a circuit that has proven to suit our package – last year’s pole and competitive race pace gave us a strong platform – and we’ve worked hard to refine our understanding of the track’s tyre demands and setup challenges. The team is fully motivated and focused on flawless execution, as this is where championships are won and lost.”
Schedule
Friday 28 November
Free Practice
14:05-14:50
Qualifying
19:10-19:40
Saturday 29 November
Sprint Race (23 laps)
19:20-20:05
Sunday 30 November
Feature Race (32 laps)
15:00-16:00