user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Marinescu goes for gold in third season in Formula 2

Marinescu goes for gold in third season in Formula 2

  • Published on 10 Apr 2012 15:40
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Romanian driver Mihai Marinescu has confirmed he will return to the FIA Formula Two Championship in 2012 and already has his eyes on the prize Williams F1 test.

Marinescu enjoyed an impressive second season in F2 last year, finishing fifth overall after claiming his maiden win at Monza, together with a further three podiums. He capped off his 2011 season by competing in the non-championship GP2 round in Abu Dhabi.

The 23-year-old, who will continue to be backed by the Romanian Tourism Department, joined Formula Two in 2010 on the back of a competitive year in Formula Renault 3.5. He scored nine points finishes over the course of the 2010 season to finish a respectable 11th overall, with his best result coming at Portimão where he narrowly missed out on his first F2 podium after storming from tenth to fourth.

Marinescu's previous racing experience stretches back more than a decade to karting, when he won four consecutive national titles and enjoyed strong success internationally. He made his single seater debut in 2005, when he competed in a variety of Formula Renault categories alongside a full campaign in Formula Junior 1600 Italy, in which he finished runner-up at the first attempt - ahead of former Toro Rosso F1 driver Jaime Alguersauri. Mihai switched to Formula BMW Europe in 2008, finishing 11th overall, and won the Formula BMW Pacific race that supported the annual Formula Three Macau Grand Prix before moving into Formula Renault 3.5 for 2009 with Interwetten.

Marinescu said: "I'm happy to be back in F2 for the 2012 season. I enjoyed racing in the series, so it was a natural choice to continue here, in a friendly and familiar environment. Of course I aim to win the championship and to take the big prize - the test with the Williams F1 car - but I learned that the championship is long, you need consistency and to work very hard, every day, to achieve this dream.

"The drivers of the 2012 season are very good ones, the competition will be hard, but spectacular for the viewers. I will do my work, I will try to be on the podium on almost every race and I will fight for race wins. If I will do my job perfectly, the big prize will come."

Formula Two Series Director Jonathan Palmer added: "It's really great to have Mihai back for 2012. He showed title winning potential last year with a superb maiden pole and lights-to-flag victory in Monza. Mihai was equally impressive during F2's winter test programme in Barcelona ending second and third quickest, and I'm sure he will be a very strong contender for the championship title."
F2 News Williams Renault

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
McLaren
593
2
Ferrari
557
3
Red Bull Racing
544
4
Mercedes
382
5
Aston Martin
86
6
Alpine F1
49
7
Haas F1
46
8
Visa Cash App RB
44
9
Williams
17
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Williams
Williams
Show full profile
show sidebar