Van Amersfoort Finalizes F2 Roster with Cordeel Promotion

The highly anticipated 2022 Formula 2 championship is set to witness a significant influx of fresh talent and new teams, and among the exciting announcements is the debut of Amaury Cordeel. The promising 19-year-old Belgian driver will embark on his rookie season in the fiercely competitive feeder series with Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), a team making its own maiden foray into Formula 2. This pairing marks a new chapter for both driver and team, as they aim to establish their presence at the pinnacle of junior single-seater racing.

Amaury Cordeel’s entry into Formula 2 represents a crucial step in his burgeoning motorsport career. He joins seasoned teammate Jake Hughes at Van Amersfoort Racing, forming a diverse lineup that combines youthful ambition with valuable experience. For Cordeel, the transition to Formula 2 comes after a challenging but instructive season in Formula 3 with Campos Racing last year. While his 2021 F3 campaign concluded without scoring any points, the experience gained battling amongst a crowded and highly competitive field provides a foundation upon which to build in the more powerful F2 machinery.

Cordeel’s journey through the junior categories showcases a driver with undeniable potential, highlighted by his early successes. His career trajectory saw him clinch the prestigious 2018 Spanish Formula 4 title, a significant achievement that firmly placed him on the radar of motorsport observers. The Spanish F4 championship, known for its competitive nature and ability to unearth future stars, saw Cordeel demonstrate consistent speed and racecraft, securing multiple victories and podium finishes en route to the championship crown. This triumph underscored his ability to adapt to new cars and master technical circuits, laying a solid groundwork for his progression.

Following his F4 success, Cordeel ventured into the Formula Regional Asian Winter Series, gaining experience in a more powerful car and adapting to diverse international circuits. He then participated in three races of the primary Formula Regional Asian Series, further honing his skills. In 2020, he competed in the Formula Renault Eurocup, a series renowned for producing Formula 1 talent. Driving for Fernando Alonso’s formidable FA Racing team, Cordeel finished 15th in the championship, navigating a fiercely contested grid that often featured drivers with more experience. His tenure with a team backed by a two-time Formula 1 world champion not only provided invaluable learning opportunities but also exposed him to a high-pressure, professional environment, pushing him to develop critical race management and technical feedback skills.

Despite the lack of points in his 2021 Formula 3 season, Cordeel did exhibit flashes of speed and promising potential. His best individual result was an 11th-place finish at the Red Bull Ring, narrowly missing out on a points-paying position. This performance, achieved on one of the calendar’s most demanding circuits, demonstrated his capacity to run within the top tier of the F3 field. A particularly notable moment from his F3 season occurred at Zandvoort, where he started from reverse-grid pole position in the opening race. This prime starting spot, his best of the season, offered a golden opportunity for a strong result. However, an unfortunate clash with Alexander Smolyar saw him drop to the back of the field, an incident that highlighted the fine margins and unpredictable nature of junior category racing. Such experiences, while disappointing at the time, are often crucial for a young driver’s development, teaching resilience and strategic race craft.

Van Amersfoort Racing’s entry into Formula 2 is a story in itself. The Dutch outfit boasts a decorated history in junior single-seater racing, having been instrumental in the development of numerous Formula 1 stars, including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Mick Schumacher, among others. Their reputation for nurturing young talent and consistently challenging for championships in series like Formula 3 and Formula 4 makes their step up to Formula 2 a highly anticipated event. This move signifies a natural progression for the team, aiming to replicate their success at the very next rung on the ladder to Formula 1. VAR’s meticulous approach to car development, driver coaching, and race strategy will be vital as they tackle the immense challenges of a new championship with new machinery and fierce competition.

The Formula 2 championship itself stands as the ultimate proving ground for aspiring Formula 1 drivers. Running alongside the F1 calendar, it uses a single-spec car design, placing the emphasis firmly on driver skill, engineering setup, and strategic execution. The intense pressure, coupled with a format that includes both sprint and feature races, demands exceptional adaptability, consistency, and mental fortitude. Rookies entering this series face a steep learning curve, not only in mastering the powerful Dallara F2 2018 car and its Pirelli tires but also in adapting to the unique demands of pit stops and complex race strategies. For Amaury Cordeel, this will be a baptism by fire, but one that could ultimately define his future in motorsport. His partnership with an experienced team like VAR and a seasoned teammate like Jake Hughes will be crucial in navigating this challenging transition.

With Amaury Cordeel’s official confirmation, the 2022 Formula 2 grid is rapidly taking shape, leaving only a handful of highly coveted spots yet to be filled. The completion of the grid underscores the intense competition for seats in this premier feeder series, where talent from around the world vies for a chance to impress Formula 1 teams. As of now, four significant spaces remain open: one at the formidable ART Grand Prix alongside the highly-rated Theo Pourchaire, another at Campos Racing, the second seat at Charouz Racing System, and the final vacant spot at the championship-winning Trident team. Each of these remaining seats holds considerable weight, and their eventual occupants will undoubtedly add further intrigue to what promises to be an exhilarating season.

The full confirmed grid:

Team	Driver	Driver
ART Grand Prix	Theo Pourchaire	TBA
Campos Racing	Ralph Boschung	TBA
Carlin	Logan Sargeant	Liam Lawson
Charouz Racing System	Cem Bolukbasi	TBA
DAMS	Roy Nissany	Ayumu Iwasa
Hitech Grand Prix	Juri Vips	Marcus Armstrong
MP Motorsport	Felipe Drugovich	Clement Novalak
Prema Racing	Jehan Daruvala	Dennis Hauger
Trident	Calan Williams	TBA
Van Amersfoort Racing	Jake Hughes	Amaury Cordeel
Virtuosi Racing	Jack Doohan	Marino Sato

As the countdown to the 2022 Formula 2 season continues, all eyes will be on Amaury Cordeel and Van Amersfoort Racing. Their combined rookie status in the series presents a compelling narrative of ambition and growth. While the challenges will be immense, the opportunity to compete at this level and learn from every session will be invaluable. Cordeel’s raw talent, coupled with VAR’s proven track record in junior motorsport, could make them one of the most exciting new partnerships to watch. The Formula 2 grid is now nearly complete, setting the stage for a thrilling season where young talents battle it out for glory and a potential future in Formula 1.

Further Reading on Formula 2