Fabio Leimer not nervous ahead of GP2 decider in Abu Dhabi
GP2 championship leader Fabio Leimer says he has no reason to feel nervous or under pressure heading into this weekend's title decider at Yas Marina
Leimer will begin the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-supporting event with a seven-point lead over Mercedes Formula 1 test driver Sam Bird, while Felipe Nasr, Stefano Coletti and James Calado are still in contention as well.
"There is no reason to become nervous when you finally get the chance to achieve what you have worked so hard for," said Leimer, who made his GP2 debut in the 2009/10 Asia series.
"Pressure is not a problem because we have been working for this for several years.
"It's good that we go to Abu Dhabi with a seven-point lead, but we have to focus on the race weekend and not the championship."
There has been a six-week gap between the penultimate GP2 round in Singapore and this weekend's finale, but Leimer said that had not affected his preparations.
"Yes, it was quite a long break, but nothing changed," he added.
"My preparation is still the same as it was at the beginning of the season.
"I do not like the idea of changing something during a season when it has worked well so far."
TITLE SITUATION
With 48 points on offer this weekend, five drivers can still win this year's GP2 championship.
However, with four points on offer for pole position on Friday. Coletti and Calado could be out of the title picture before the start of race one.
Standings
1 Fabio Leimer 179
2 Sam Bird 172
3 Felipe Nasr 148
4 Stefano Coletti 135
5 James Calado 134
Points available
Race one pole position: 4
Race one win: 25
Race one fastest lap: 2
Race two win: 15
Race two fastest lap: 2
Simon Trummer to stay on with Rapax GP2 team in 2014
Abu Dhabi GP2: Fabio Leimer pips title rival Sam Bird in practice
F2 driver Caldwell gets one-round ban for Spa
Formula 2 driver Olli Caldwell will miss the next round of the championship after being handed a race ban for reaching 12 penalty points as a result of a track limits breach in Hungary.
F2 Hungary: Pourchaire reignites title battle with feature race victory
Theo Pourchaire clinched FIA Formula 2 feature race victory in Hungary to reignite the title battle with Felipe Drugovich.
F2 Hungary: Doohan cruises to sprint race win
Jack Doohan cruised to FIA Formula 2 victory at the Hungaroring, holding off Juri Vips to cross the line five seconds clear.
F2 Hungary: Iwasa takes maiden series pole
Ayumu Iwasa took his maiden FIA Formula 2 pole at the Hungaroring, continuing his strong form after feature race victory in France last week.
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
Track limits are the problem that motorsport doesn't seem to be able to rid itself of. But the use of so-called 'sausage kerbs' as a deterrent has in several instances only served to worsen the problem, and a growing number of voices want to see action taken
The on-form F1 protege carrying America's hopes on his shoulders
Two feature race wins in as many rounds have helped Logan Sargeant to emerge as the closest challenger to runaway Formula 2 points leader Felipe Drugovich. The Williams F1 junior couldn't have timed his rise better, with interest in grand prix racing on the rise in his US homeland, and he could be his country's best shot at getting a driver on the grid for the first time since 2015
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
Heading into FIA Formula 2 this season, there was a lot of pressure on Jack Doohan. The 2021 F3 runner-up joined a new team for his next challenge, as well as signing up to the Alpine Academy. He told Autosport how he’s tackling the step up - with some help from his motorcycle legend father
The Brazilian F2 driver hoping to return his country to motorsport's top tier
With a chaotic but “pretty much perfect” FIA Formula 2 weekend in Saudi Arabia behind him, Felipe Drugovich now leads the drivers’ standings in his third crack at the series. The Brazilian driver explains how he's improved amid some difficult years, and shares his dreams of ending his nation's absence from the F1 grid
The Red Bull junior aiming to emulate Piastri in F2
Norwegian talent Dennis Hauger has a tough act to follow in Oscar Piastri’s footsteps on his graduation to F2 as the reigning F3 champion with Prema. Here’s what he makes of the task ahead of him
The other Mercedes F1 young gun facing a big 2022
With a disappointing 2021 season behind him, Frederik Vesti makes the move up to FIA Formula 2 with a reinvigorated sense of determination. Could this finally be the breakthrough year for the talented Mercedes junior?
Ranking the 10 best drivers of an F1 junior series stalwart
DAMS has been one of the most prolific teams below Formula 1 since its foundation in 1989, launching 32 drivers into grand prix racing. Following the team's sale to ex-F1 racer Charles Pic, formally closing the book on the ownership of the Driot family, Autosport picks out its 10 best drivers during their spell with the team