The FIA Formula 2 Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship is running at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix for the first time this year, and there are four Australian drivers flying the flag this weekend.
 
Competing in the Formula 2 Championship will be Jack Doohan, who is also an Alpine Academy driver, while Hugh Barter, Christian Mansell and Tommy Smith are in Formula 3. 
 
Both championships form part of the FIA’s Road to F1 pathway, with a handful of current Formula 1 drivers having progressed through F2 and/or F3, including Charles Leclerc, Mercedes’ George Russell and Australia’s own Oscar Piastri.
 
Having raced in Formula 3 in 2020 and Formula 2 in 2021, Piastri ended up claiming both championships in each of his rookie years – highlighting his remarkable rise into the premier racing category. 
 
Doohan joined Piastri on the Formula 3 grid in 2020 and had a challenging opening year before finding his feat 2021 where he finished second in the championship. 
 
The Queenslander then had a strong debut in Formula 2 last year, picking up three wins and three further podiums to finish the year in sixth place overall. 


As for the three Formula 3 drivers, each took on different routes to get to the third tier of Formula 1 racing.
 
Barter spent two years racing Formula 4 in France and Spain having initially won the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy in 2020. The teenager went on to finish second in the French F4 Championship on his first attempt in 2021.
 
The Victorian again ended up in the same position in last year’s French F4 Championship, while also finishing second overall in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.
 
Like Barter, Mansell has enjoyed a solid rise up the ranks having picked up plenty of success and been in contention for titles. 
 
The Newcastle born driver picked up British Formula 4 Championship Rookie Cup honours in 2020 before graduating to GB3 where he placed third outright for the season. Mansell continued his good form the following year, finishing third in the 2022 Euroformula Open Championship courtesy of three wins and a further 10 podiums.


Rounding out the list of F3 drivers is Smith, who raced against Mansell in the 2021 GB3 season, having competed in a few rounds. The Victorian contested the full championship last year, with his highlight being a victory at the famous Spa-Francorchamps.
 
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Smith is the only one out of the four Aussies to have experienced this track, having raced in 2019 as part of the Australian Formula 4 Championship.
 
While all four drivers are now well into their international careers, all four started off with racing in a number ofKarting Australia events. 
 
Both categories will have practice sessions and qualifying on Friday, before the reverse-grid Sprint race on Saturday and the main Feature race on Sunday.
 
The quartet all caught up with Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser and spoke to media on the first day of the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.
 
The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix takes place in Albert Park on 30 March – 2 April. 

QUOTES

Jack Doohan
Virtuosi Racing
“It's going to be a super special weekend. I have been driving on this Albert Park circuit on PlayStation since 2011, so to be doing it in person, it's not going to sink in so soon. 

“Every track for me has been away from home.  I have never raced a car on home soil so it’s all the same sort of thing. Never thought about where I am and where I am driving, but to be driving in Australia and on home soil, it's going to be unbelievable for me. 

“I want to treat it as normal as I can. I don't want to think of it as too special. It's one of those one-off events like Monaco or Macau, where if you make too big of a deal of it, it could have a bad effect, so I'm just going to embrace the atmosphere and treat it as a normal weekend.”
 
Tommy Smith
Van Amersfoort Racing
“This is the first time I have been home in two years, so it's nice to be back. I have driven on this circuit before, it gives me a bit more confidence as we only get one practice session. However, the track should be a bit easier than when I was here last and will be less complicated.

“It’s super cool to drive Formula 3. There is still lots to learn, but I have a quick teammate and as long as I improve with every session, I will be happy. 
 
Hugh Barter 
Campos Racing
“Obviously, I grew up in Melbourne, so it’s a very surreal feeling to be racing in not only my own nation, but where I grew up. It's an amazing feeling and I need to make the most of the weekend and treat it as if it's a home weekend. Really nice to be on home soil. 

“Formula three is very different to Formula 4 as there is a lot of attention and eyes on you – it adds to the excitement. 

“Coming into a track like this where no one has any data, it means you have to maximise track time. You have towork harder than we did at other tracks like Bahrain to find the best set up for Qualifying and make the most for the weekend.”
 
Christian Mansell
Campos Racing
"I am very excited to be racing on home soil. I am looking forward to having passionate fans. I am really happy to be here and I can't wait to get on it. 

"The first experience in Formula 3 was very cool. I enjoy it a lot. It's hard not to when you're in the peak feeder series when it comes to the F3 standard. The first round was a very positive weekend for us in the opening round, so it gave me the confidence to think that we can get a result in future events."
 
Andrew Fraser
Motorsport Australia President 
“It’s great to have an Australian contingency this weekend welcoming Formula 2 and Formula 3 to the Grand Prix for the first time. Looking forward to what these guys can do on the track.

“A couple of years ago, Oscar Piastri was in these championships and we know he will be racing in Formula 1 for the first time. That’s the pathway and what these four guys demonstrate is the future of Australian motorsport. I think the future of Australian motorsport is in good hands. I wish them all the best.”