Ferrari academy driver Dino Beganovic will make the step up to Formula 2 for events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi with DAMS, which round out the F1 feeder series’ 2024 campaign.
The 20-year-old replaces Juan Manuel Correa, who returned to competition in 2021 after sustaining serious injuries in the same crash at Spa Francorchamps in 2019 that claimed the life of Anthoine Hubert.
In what was a highly competitive F3 campaign which saw 12 different drivers taste victory - this number not including Leonardo Fornaroli who became the first winless champion – Beganovic was victorious twice, topping the podium in the Australia feature race and the Belgian sprint for Prema.
While seven zero scores limited his championship potential, he remained in the mathematical contention until the final weekend in Monza, eventually ending the year in sixth – a result which matched that of his rookie season.
Beganovic will join Luke Browning, Christian Mansell and Oliver Goethe in graduating from F3 for the final rounds, but the announcement comes without any hint that this union will run beyond the two weekends.
“I can’t wait to make my Formula 2 debut with DAMS Lucas Oil, who has so much history as well as a tremendous drive to achieve great results,” said Beganovic.
“This feels like the natural next step in my career, and I’m ready for the challenge in an extremely competitive championship.
“My aim for these two races is to learn as much as possible and to be scoring points in my first F2 action in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”
The decision will come as a blow to Correa, who successfully climbed back to F2 after recovering from his injuries, having initially been placed in an induced coma following the incident.
Recommencing his racing career initially in F3, Correa has spent the past two seasons in F2 while also contesting in LMP2 machinery having won the European Le Mans Series finale at Algarve in 2022.
But the American-Ecuadorian has endured a tough year, though he returned to the podium for the first time since that Spa crash in the Spanish feature race - an occasion that came five years to the day since he had last stood on the F2 podium alongside Hubert.
Speaking of the switch, DAMS team owner Charles Pic said: “We’re excited to take on a talent like Dino for the remainder of the season. It’s a step up from Formula 3 and a very competitive championship, but we’re confident that with the help of the team, Dino can be competitive in these final two rounds.
“He has an excellent racing CV, and we believe he has what it takes to fight for strong points.
“I would also like to thank JM for his efforts this season, it was a pleasure to work with him and we wish him all the best for the future."
