Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Prema will hand Alpine junior Gabriele Mini his Formula 2 debut in Baku this weekend, as he stands in for Ollie Bearman.
The Haas Formula 1 team has called up Bearman to race in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as regular driver Kevin Magnussen serves a race ban due to accumulating too many penalty points on his race lisence.
Mini came second in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year with Prema, winning from pole in Monaco and taking four other podium finishes over the course of the season. He only lost out on the title at the final corner of the final race.
“Very happy to be joining Prema for the F2 event at Baku,” said the 19-year-old Italian.
“We had a strong season in 2024, and we have been fighting for the title until the last corner. F2 is the main option for 2025 so it’s also very important to join early at Baku. It’s a good opportunity for me to learn with the new car and series.”
Mini has spent two years in F3, coming seventh in the 2023 standings, and was in Formula Regional the two years before that. In 2020 he won the Italian Formula 4 title, with Bearman one of his on-track rivals.
Prema’s team principal Rene Rosin added: “We cannot wait to see Gabriele make his F2 debut. It’s very rewarding to see him graduate to the top junior single-seater series after making his very first steps with our team back in 2020. It will be a useful opportunity for both him and the team. On the other hand, we want to wish Ollie the best in his second F1 start and we look forward to having him back for the final part of the year.”