Christian Mansell to make the step up to Formula 2 with Trident for remainder of 2024

Christian Mansell (pictured) will take the place of Roman Stanek for 2024. Credit: Joe Portlock via Getty Images

Australian driver Christian Mansell was announced to replace Roman Stanek at Trident for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 2 Championship, as announced on Monday.

Mansell will make the step up to graduate from Formula 3 to take Stanek's place in partnering Richard Verschoor for the remaining three rounds of the season.

The 19-year old from Australia will be making the step up after finishing fifth in the 2024 Formula 3 Championship and was contending for the title heading into the final round at Monza. 

Following on from this, Mansell will try to prove his worth to the other teams, for a seat in the 2025 Formula 2 Championship next season. He will have a perfect chance at an audition in the remaining final three rounds of the championship in Azerbaijan, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

This was the second driver announcement of Monday, after Gabriele Mini had been announced to replace Oliver Bearman at Prema, for the Baku round only. This will be an opportunity for both drivers to showcase their skills on their journeys to the top and potentially on the road to F1.

Mansell moving into the seat means that the partnership between Roman Stanek and Trident will come to an end after almost two full seasons. The Czech Republican driver has managed to take one victory, which came in the Australian sprint race after a post-race time penalty for Isack Hadjar.

Stanek, 20, would leave his seat at Trident with his position in the championship being 21st after competing in all 11 rounds of the championship in 2024. The relationship at Trident will come to an end for Stanek after three seasons, with one of the three coming in Formula 3 before his graduation to Formula 2.

Trident's team manager Giacomo Ricci spoke to Trident's media about the signing of Christian Mansell, who will come in for his Formula 2 race debut, this coming weekend.

Ricci said: "We are extremely delighted to field Australian driver Christian Mansell in the next three rounds of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. I consider him one of the most talented emerging drivers in this year's FIA Formula 3 Championship, where he was in contention until the final round at Monza.

"Christian is a complete driver, quick in qualifying, and extremely good at managing tyres and overtaking."

After completing his second full season of FIA Formula 3, Mansell will make the step up to FIA Formula 2 and will have a good teammate to compare his performances against. Richard Verschoor is someone who is experienced in the category and sadly has never had the best of luck.

Trident will be hoping for better luck with the final three rounds of the season as it has been a bit of a difficult Formula 2 campaign for the team this year sitting ninth overall. Although it is an improvement on 10th in 2023, they will be still hoping to make improvements.

​Mansell's weekend debut at the Baku City Circuit, in Azerbaijan will commence on Friday morning with the free practice session. 

Brandon Whiteside
​Writer - F1 Journal