Hitech’s Dino Beganovic has revealed his close relationship with Gabriel Bortoleto and the “surreal” nature of being in the Ferrari Driver Academy ahead of the 2025 Formula 2 season.
The Swedish driver made his debut in the junior category for DAMS Lucas Oil at the Qatar Grand Prix, qualifying in an impressive fourth place for the Feature race and taking his first points with a fifth place finish.
Beganovic went one better in Abu Dhabi, earning his first podium in the series thanks to the disqualification of Paul Aron, taking 22 points across his first two rounds in F2.
Following in the footsteps of Aron, Beganovic leaves Prema Racing after five years with the Italian team to join Hitech for the 2025 season.
Motorsport Week spoke exclusively with the 21-year-old, who is hoping to make his mark with his new team and insists the experience of last season helped in “proving some people wrong”.
“Definitely, I mean, having the opportunity to do those two rounds in F2, the whole aim was just to have some experience going into this year, gain as much experience as possible and just have a baseline of where we can work from,” Beganovic said.
“Obviously, we have a very good baseline to work from now.
“It went very well and I’m very, very happy with how it went after a tough season in Formula 3.
“I’m very happy that, jumping in a new car and just doing well and proving some people wrong, I think it was very important for me, but also some other people to see what I’m capable of.
“It’s a good starting point of what we can build on this year with my new team, Hitech.”
Beganovic ‘thankful’ for ‘close’ relationship with Bortoleto
The Linkoping-born racing driver made his debut in single-seater racing back in 2020 for the Italian Formula 4 Championship with Prema Powerteam.
His team-mate that season was Bortoleto, who has since gone onto become the F2 World Champion in 2024.
The Sauber-Formula 1 bound driver and Beganovic and have been close ever since, even sharing advice with each other on and off the track.
“Yeah, Gabriel and I, we are good friends since a long time,” he added.
“We were teammates in F4 and I think that’s where it kind of kicked off, being very good mates since then.
“Him having lived in Milan for a while, it was quite easy for us to meet and also having some weekends together, but also on track.
“When we were competing, maybe not sharing everything, for example, in Formula 3 in regional.
“But like I said, always mates outside the track and my best mate, and definitely for the last two rounds [of last season].
“Obviously he was in a very good position to win the championship, which he did in the end.
“He didn’t see me as a threat in that way and could share some stuff with me, which I’m very thankful for.
“It’s some stuff that can take races to learn and sometimes you need to do them yourself before and understanding that this is what happens when you do that, if you change some stuff with your driving in race scenario, quali scenario.
“So he definitely did give me some tips in that and I’m very thankful for that – it’s very nice to have this relationship with him.”
Switch to Hitech feels like ‘the right move’
Beganovic partners fellow F3 graduate Luke Browning at Hitech for the 2025 season, a driver he has lots of “respect” for.
Another driver he respects is his former team-mate Aron, who finished third for the British team in the F2 Drivers’ Standings in 2024.
However, he admitted he only played a “small part” in his decision to leave Prema, citing the need for change as the main reason for his exit.
“Well, I’ve been in Prema for five years, since I started my single-seater career in F4 after karting,” Beganovic explained.
“We definitely had a good couple of years together, winning the Formula Regional Championship in 22’ and having a strong first year in F3 as well.
“I don’t want to go into details of exactly why [I made] the change, but Hitech feels like the right move for me for this year.
“And looking at Paul, how well he did last year as well, I’ve been teammates with him for three seasons.
“He’s a very good driver and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the team, Hitech.
“So it did play maybe a small part, but not the biggest one.
“I just felt like I needed a change and some things that could have been better also last year in my second year of F3 as well with Prema.
“But I think it’s healthy to change the environment a bit and I’m very happy with at the moment what we are doing in Hitech and what we are building on.”
Beganovic: ‘It’s many driver’s dream to be a Ferrari driver’
Beganovic joined the Ferrari Driver Academy back in 2020 and he reportedly made his debut in a Ferrari F1 car in the team’s behind closed doors test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The two-time F3 race winner touched on the “very special feeling” of being a Ferrari academy driver.
“Well, it’s many driver’s dream to be a Ferrari driver,” he said.
“I joined the Academy in 2020, so we’re starting our sixth year together, which is surreal actually.
“It’s a very special feeling to have them behind me and feeling the support of, I would say, the most iconic brand or team as well in motorsport.
“Just having them believe in you and giving you all the opportunities is very nice.
“They’ve definitely been a big part of my journey so far, giving some insights from Formula 1 if they have some different experience.
“If we are going to a new track, for example, for me in Qatar last year, it was helpful to get some insights from the Formula 1 team.
“Definitely using their simulator, both the F2 and F3 one, but as well as I’m doing a lot of work in the F1 sim.
“It definitely helps me as a driver, improving every time I’m in the sim and every lap I’m doing in the sim.
“With my feedback as well being very precise and good from early days in my career, I think it’s strong because eventually if you get the opportunity to jump in an F1 car, in an F1 team, you need to be prepared to do those stuff well.
“Giving feedback and having a good relationship with your engineers, mechanics and so on.
“Being and breathing in the air of Ferrari in Maranello is something special.”
Young Swede aims to be top F2 contender in 2025
Spearheading the F2 title fight next season will be the likes of the reigning F3 champion, Leonardo Fornaroli, Arvid Lindblad and Gabriele Mini.
After two consistent sixth-place finishes in back-to-back F3 seasons, Beganovic is hoping he can challenge at the front in F2 and he revealed how he will use his good friend Bortoleto as an inspiration.
“Well, that’s my goal and that’s what I’ve been working on and I’m working on right now to always be there in the top because I think the best example of winning a championship is Gabriel, having won F3, having won F2,” he revealed.
“Not a super good start in the F2 year.
“I mean, obviously he did take pole in Bahrain, but after that he didn’t score a massive amount of points.
“But he always was in the points.
“In the end, he had a very strong second half.
“So, looking at this every year, always being there in the top and taking points, that’s how you win championships.
“I’m looking to do that, but first we need to see where we are in Barcelona and then from there we will have a clear point what our expectations will be.
“But I’m definitely looking to be a contender this year.”
READ MORE: Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic joins Hitech as 2025 F2 grid takes shape
