Joshua Dürksen is one of the hottest names in Formula 2. The Paraguayan F2 driver is making a name for himself on track with excellent results. Recently, Dürksen had a remarkable weekend at Monza, Italy, where the AIX Racing prodigy secured two consecutive podium finishes in the F2 Championship, a key feeder series to Formula 1.
With more strong performances, he could be in line for a move to F1, the pinnacle of global motorsport. Such an achievement would be a triumph not only for him, but also for Paraguay. This is the story of Joshua Dürksen.
Swiftly making a name
Joshua Iván Dürksen Dyck was born on October 27, 2003, in Asunción. His parents are coming from the Paraguayan Chaco, and his paternal great-grandfather left Germany during World War II. His passion for racing began at age 11 when he convinced his parents to buy him a go-kart.
Climbing the ladder
Dürksen’s passion for racing ignited early, leading him to join German team Mücke Motorsports for the Formula 4 Championship in 2019. The Paraguayan driver won multiple races, and was on the podium multiple times. At the end of the F4 season, he finished far behind his fierce rival, Argentinian-Italian Mattero Nannini.
Following the season, Dürksen continued racing in the Italian and ADAC Formula 4. Dürksen finished in 8th position at the end of that season. In 2020 and 2021, he continued racing in both championships. Before climbing the ladder, he also drove in the Euroformula Open, which is a third-tier race. That race was held at the legendary Hungaroring racetrack in Hungary.
Bouncing back, and heartfelt pain
In 2022, while having financial difficulty and struggling to find a racing seat, Joshua Dürksen bounced back. The Paraguayan raced in the Formula Regional European Championship. With Arden Motorsports, he was driving with Eduardo Barrichello, the son of former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello.
During one of his races at Spa-Francorchamps, Dutch driver Dilano van’t Hoff died in a crash. Like many other dirvers, it marked Dürksen, and it reminds everyone how dangerous the sport can be. Dürksen finished the season with 40 points, and 14th place overall.
Struggling to move forward
In 2023, Joshua Dürksen moved to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, the equivalent of the European Championship, but for countries of the Arabian Peninsula. With the Hyderabad Blackbirds of MP Motorsports, Dürksen struggled. With multiple collisions in different races, he finished in 16th position with 29 points.
At the end of 2023, the chance came nonetheless. Dürksen raced for PHM AIX Racing in Formula 3 for postseason testing. Without much experience at that level, he received a call-up to drive in Formula 2 in 2024. His partner was an F3 graduate, Taylor Barnard, having completed a full season of Formula 3 before.
Joshua Dürksen in Formula 2
Dürksen stayed with AIX Racing to start his F2 career. After starting slowly with the team, he then made history. On May 19, 2024, Dürksen finished 3rd, scoring the first-ever points, and podium, in F2 for Paraguay. After a roller-coaster showing, on September 15, he won the F2 sprint race in Baku, Azerbaijan. He won again later in that season at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
In 2025, Joshua Dürksen is continuing in F2. In March, he won the sprint in Melbourne, Australia. On the weekend of 6 and 7 of September, he finished with two podiums in Monza; on the first day, he finished 3rd in the sprint category, and on the second day, he finished 2nd in the main race. Those performances were celebrated all around Paraguay, including by President Santiago Peña.
Baku coming up!
The next race weekend will be Baku on 20 and 21 September, 2025. The last two F2 race weekends of the 2025 season will be in Lusail, Qatar (29-30 November), and in Yas Marina (6-7 December). With previous success in Yas, Dürksen has a chance of a podium, which would let him finish the season on a high note.
A rising star on the edge of F1?
His performances in F2 have been impressive, earning Joshua Dürken respect as one of the sport’s emerging talents.
“My goal is to achieve better results in F2 and to attract the interest of an F1 team,” Joshua Dürksen said to other media. “I am looking for an opportunity to at least have a test drive or become part of a driver development program.”
With his sights firmly set on the sport’s very pinnacle, Dürksen might soon be expected to make the leap into Formula 1. Bringing pride to Paraguay on the world’s most prestigious stage.
