The DAMS team is set to face new challenges in 2025. With Juan Manuel Correa departing, the team opted for the talented Kush Maini as a reinforcement; however, the impact has been relatively limited.
During his third season in F2, Jak Crawford emerged as a strong contender for the championship. He and Leonardo Fornaroli were evenly matched, each securing four victories. However, due to a slow start to the season, the American driver ultimately finished second, just one Grand Prix weekend shy of the title. Meanwhile, Indian driver Maini claimed victory in the sprint race at Monaco, but his overall performance was still limited, forcing the DAMS team to rely on Crawford's results to edge out MP Racing based on wins, ultimately finishing third in the overall standings.
With Crawford graduating, the DAMS team is entering a new era with the addition of Polish driver Roman Bilinski and Ferrari junior driver Dino Beganovic, who will both compete in the upcoming season.
At just 21 years old, Bilinski might hail from Gloucestershire, England, but he competes under the Polish flag, thanks to his Polish heritage from his father. Since entering the world of formula racing in 2020, Bilinski's performance may not have set the track on fire, but he clinched the champion title in the 2024 F3 Oceania region. After moving up to the F3 championship, he also secured one victory and reached the podium three times, showing solid results.
At just 22 years old, Beganovic hails from Sweden, having achieved impressive results that place him just behind Ireland's Alex Dunne, who currently races for the Rodin team. Making his way onto the European racing scene through the Ferrari Driver Academy, Beganovic already claimed a podium finish at the sprint race in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2024. In his first full season, he notched up one win and four podium finishes, ultimately securing seventh place, positioning him as a key contender for the championship in the upcoming season.
Although Beganovic finds himself in a somewhat awkward position within the Ferrari development program, his performance last year with the Hitech team still showcased his potential. His addition could help DAMS maintain a certain level of competitiveness even after bidding farewell to Crawford.
However, given the performance of the top teams in the early part of the season, if DAMS is aiming to challenge for a top three finish, whether Bilinski can replicate his dominant performance in the Oceania F3 will be a crucial factor.
