Joshua Duerksen did not anticipate his winning start to the Formula 2 season during the thrilling race weekend at Melbourne, but the AIX Racing driver proved his mettle by clinching victory at the sprint race on March 15, 2025. Duerksen, who ended the 2024 season on a high note with victory at the Abu Dhabi feature race, began 2025 by securing back-to-back wins with this remarkable performance.
Starting from second place, having qualified ninth and 0.652 seconds off the pole, he seized the lead from polesitter Leonardo Fornaroli right at the start. Duerksen successfully managed the pace throughout the race, effectively handling two safety car restarts before crossing the finish line to celebrate the first win of the 2025 season. “Last year when I won the race in Abu Dhabi, I was like ‘okay, this is the perfect ending.’ Finishing with a feature race victory, getting to the top 10 [in the standings]. And now starting the season with a victory, that's really great feeling, and winning in Australia is something I didn't really think about,” Duerksen stated, reflecting on his achievements.
While Duerksen controlled the race, he encountered some pressure during the second safety car restart as his rivals closed the gap. “The first safety car restart, I felt pretty good, but on the second one I knew Leo [Fornaroli] would know my strategy, so then I felt a bit more pressure,” he elaborated. “But still it was all fine. Especially on the second safety car, I was like ‘ah, no, I don’t need this’ because I had a good gap.” The young driver remained focused, ensuring his tires were warmed up and maintaining his composure for clean laps, which he credits as pivotal for his victory.
With this win, Duerksen has expressed a “boost of confidence” stemming from his late 2024 success. He and his team have carried this momentum through the off-season, during which they were eager to test their preparation against competitive standards. He said, “When you create a gap, you feel a bit more relief, and then when you see the safety car, it’s like ‘oh, come on’.” His confidence and strategic drive underlined their approach going forward.
The results of the race saw Duerksen leading the pack, with Fornaroli finishing second and Hitech TGR's Luke Browning securing third after battling fiercely for the podium spot. MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor finished fourth, closely followed by Roman Stanek, completing the top five for Invicta Racing. The results indicate solid performances from both veteran and rookie drivers, marking a competitive start to the season, especially for Fornaroli, who debuted with impressive speed.
Looking toward the feature race on March 16, Duerksen expressed anticipation, highlighting potential weather influences. “Tomorrow's going to be a really interesting race. It says it should rain a lot, so this is going to mix up a lot of strategies and just the prediction of who’s going to win the race,” he anticipated. The impending rain not only adds elements of unpredictability to the race but could also reshape team strategies significantly.
Fans and teams alike await the feature race, with ART Grand Prix driver Victor Martins set to start from pole alongside Verschoor. This Saturday’s sprint race set the tone for the season, showing Duerksen’s readiness to take on new challenges and the eagerness of others to challenge him following his early advantage. Duerksen’s performance has placed him firmly on the radar as he aims for another dominant display at the Melbourne circuit, hoping to secure another win.
With the championship still to be decided and numerous races lined up, the excitement builds not just for Duerksen but for the entire Formula 2 grid. The upcoming feature race promises to be pivotal, especially with highly competitive teams like AIX Racing and Invicta striving for top positions.