Trident Formula 2 team drops banned Haas F1 junior Santino Ferrucci
Formula 2 team Trident Motorsport has parted ways with banned Haas Formula 1 junior driver Santino Ferrucci, who crashed into team-mate Arjun Maini and drove with a phone in hand
Ferrucci is banned for the next two events - the Hungaroring and Spa - after driving into the left-rear of Maini's car on the Silverstone sprint race cool-down lap. The two had clashed in both Silverstone races.
Ferrucci was also fined €66,000 for driving without a glove on, while also holding a mobile phone as he drove between paddocks in his F2 car.
Trident has cited Ferrucci's actions, as well as payment issues, for the reason of the contract termination.
The statement said Trident had "communicated to Santino Ferrucci and to its guarantor, a company represented by Mr Michael Ferrucci, the termination of the contract with the team.
"This decision was motivated by the events - which are now in the public domain - that occurred at Silverstone, as well as by the serious breach of driver's payment obligations.
"Since the beginning of the championship, the driver justified his payment default with alleged failure by his sponsors to fulfil their obligations.
"It seems weird that, despite such kind of issues, Santino Ferrucci had the resources needed to enter the Detroit IndyCar race from June 1-3 while, at the same time, he was not honouring his agreement with Trident Motorsport.
"Trident gave mandate to its lawyers in order to activate all the procedures needed to fully recover its credits towards the driver."
Trident has a week to finalise a replacement for Ferrucci in time for the next F2 round on the Hungarian Grand Prix support bill.
Autosport understands that Ferrucci has also been released by his management company, Julian Jakobi's GP Sports Management.
McLaren F1 junior Norris: 2018 F2 campaign by far my worst season
F2 points leader Russell: Early '18 setbacks have helped me improve
Why F2 are pioneers, not lab rats, over sustainable fuel switch
FIA Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel has insisted the series is “not being a testing ground, we are pioneers” as it prepares to switch to sustainable fuels next year.
How an overlooked underdog snatched an historic title
Watching from the pitwall at Monza, Felipe Drugovich was crowned FIA Formula 2 champion. But how did the MP Motorsport driver go from overlooked underdog to dominating the series in 2022?
F2 champion Drugovich in frame for Aston Martin F1 reserve role
Felipe Drugovich is in the frame for an Aston Martin Formula 1 reserve role in 2023, and the Brazilian is being lined up for an FP1 outing in Abu Dhabi this year.
F2 stewards apologise to Vips for "administrative error" penalty
The FIA stewards have apologised to Juri Vips after he was mistakenly handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty during Sunday’s FIA Formula 2 feature race.
What the future holds for two Red Bull juniors fighting in the F2 battleground
Despite having two talented drivers, albeit at very different stages of their careers, Prema Racing has had mixed fortunes in FIA Formula 2 this year. Both drivers told Autosport how they rate their seasons so far – and their next steps beyond 2022
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?