Mini debuts in F2 with Prema: he will race in Baku replacing Bearman

There will be a new addition to the Formula 2 grid for the upcoming race weekend in Baku. Gabriele Minì will make his debut in a single-seater from the preparatory series when he replaces Oliver Bearman, who is competing in Formula 1 with Haas, where he will inherit the seat of Kevin Magnussen, who was disqualified for a Grand Prix due to having twelve points on his license.

A game of interlocking that left the Prema seat free for a weekend and that allowed Minì to have his first chance in Formula 2, waiting for the transition to materialize next year. The Italian in fact concluded the Formula 3 championship in Monza a few weeks ago, where he fought for the title until the last appointment with Leonardo Fornaroli, finishing second in the standings behind his compatriot.

Minì first joined PREMA in 2020, winning in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, before moving to the FRECA championship, where he raced with the ART team. After finishing on the podium in his second year in regional Formula 3, Minì took the next step, moving up to Formula 3, first with Hitech and then returning to Prema in 2024. He has also been supported along the way by Alpine, who have included him in their academy since last year.

For the Italian driver, it will be an opportunity to get to know a Formula 2 car, although he will do so directly on a race weekend, as he has not done any tests with this type of single-seater. Furthermore, it will also be the first time he will race on the Baku street circuit, as this event is not part of the Formula 3 calendar.

“I am very happy to join PREMA Racing for the FIA ​​Formula 2 races in Baku. We had a great season in 2024 and fought for the title until the last corner. Formula 2 is the main option for 2025, so it is very important to arrive early in Baku. It is a good opportunity for me to learn with the new car and the new series,” said Mini about his debut this weekend.

“We are looking forward to seeing Gabriele make his Formula 2 debut. It is very rewarding to see him step up to the top junior single-seater series after taking his first steps with our team in 2020. It will be a useful opportunity for both him and the team. On the other hand, we would like to wish Ollie all the best for his second start in Formula 1 and we look forward to having him back with us for the final part of the year,” added Prema Team Principal Rene Rosin.