For the first time in the history of the Formula 2 Championship series, former sim racer and F1 Esports driver Cem Bolukbasi will line up on the real-life Formula 2 Championship (F2) grid next season after signing with Charouz Racing System.

Bolukbasi, who was competing in virtual races in the F1 Esports Series in 2017, 2018 and 2019, also winning the Formula Renault Esport Series, graduated into real-life single-seater racing in the 2019 GT4 European Championship. The Turkish driver then drove in two full seasons of GT4 racing in 2020 and 2021, winning twice in the Pro-Am category.