FIA Formula 2 Championship
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (March 2024) |
 | |
| Category | One-make open-wheel single-seater Formula auto racing |
|---|---|
| Region | International |
| Inaugural season | 2017 |
| Drivers | 22 |
| Teams | 11 |
| Chassis suppliers | Dallara |
| Engine suppliers | Mecachrome |
| Tyre suppliers | Pirelli |
| Drivers' champion |  Théo Pourchaire |
| Teams' champion | ART Grand Prix |
| Official website | fiaformula2.com |
 Current season | |
The FIA Formula 2 Championship[1] is a second-tier single-seater championship organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Held on racing circuits, the championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the long-term Formula One feeder series GP2. The series' original founders were Flavio Briatore and current managing director Bruno Michel. It is the last step on the FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One. While it is not absolutely necessary to do so, most current F1 drivers have participated in either Formula 2 or GP2 before graduating to Formula One. The aim of F2 is to be the pinnacle of junior motorsport and select the best drivers for F1[2], however this has been questioned in 2024 after Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli from 15th and 6th place were both signed by F1 teams while F2 champions like Felipe Drugovich and Pourchaire weren't promoted. [3][4]
Formula 2 is designed to make racing relatively affordable for the teams and to make it an ideal training ground for life in Formula One. The series is a spec series; all teams are required to use the same chassis, engine, and tire supplier. Formula 2 mainly races on European and Middle Eastern circuits, but has appearances at other international race tracks as well, such as the Albert Park Circuit in Australia.
The Formula 2 chassis is developed by Italian manufacturer Dallara. While significantly slower than Formula One cars, the Formula 2 championship cars are faster than most other circuit racing vehicles. All iterations of the Formula 2 chassis aim to closely mirror Formula One cars in terms of safety, aesthetics, system functionalities, performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. In 2024, the series introduced ground effect to align with similar developments shown in Formula One cars, and chassis development is set to continue over the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons, aligning with the gradual increase in sustainable fuel components, targeting 100% synthetic sustainable fuels by 2027.[5]
Origins
[edit]Numbering system
[edit]The numbering system in the FIA Formula 2 Championship is currently based on the previous season's team standings (similar to the Formula One 1996–2013 numbering system) except for the number 13, which has been used since the formation of the GP2 Series in 2005 until present. Additionally, since the 2020 season, the number 19 (and later the number 18) has been retired to honor Anthoine Hubert, who sustained fatal injuries during one of the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix's support races.[6][7]
Race weekend
[edit]The feature race includes a compulsory pit-stop, in which all four tyres must be changed. Unless the driver has used wet-weather tyres during the feature race, they must use at least one set of each specification of dry-weather tyres during the feature race.[8]
On Friday, there is one free practice session of 45 minutes and one qualifying session of 30 minutes.[5]
On Saturday one Sprint Race (two in 2021) takes place, consisting of 120 kilometres[a] or 45 minutes, whichever comes first. The starting grid will be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of Friday's qualifying session.
On Sunday, the feature race takes place ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, consisting of 170 kilometres[b] or 60 minutes, whichever comes first. The feature race had earlier taken place on Saturday instead of the sprint race from 2017 to 2020.
Points system
[edit]The top 8 finishers in the sprint race receive points as follows:
| Point system for Sprint Race | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
The top 10 finishers in the Feature Race receive points as follows:
| Point system for Feature Race | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
The driver who qualified in pole position for the Feature race during Friday's qualifying session receives an additional 2 points.
In each race, one point will be awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest lap time, provided they were in the top 10 positions of the final race classification.
The maximum number of points a driver can score at any round will be 39.
A count-back system is used to decide the places of drivers with equal points in the championship, with the driver with the most wins ranking highest of those with equal points totals. If there is still a tie, the most second-place finishes, then the most third-place finishes, etc., would be used to split the tied drivers. This count-back system is applied at all stages of the championship.
Costs
[edit]One estimate puts the cost of running a Formula Two car at $US 3 million per season.[9] In most cases, the majority of costs must be paid by the drivers themselves. This may be through personal sponsorship or personal or family wealth. These costs, as well as the costs of competing in more junior categories, represent a major barrier to drivers reaching Formula One.
A number of cost control measures, including freezing car specifications and reducing the number of venues, were introduced by the FIA for the 2021 season.[10]
The car and technology
[edit]The same FIA Formula 2 Championship car is used by all of the teams and features a carbon-fiber monocoque Dallara chassis, powered by a single-turbocharged direct-injected Mecachrome V6 engine (both respectively until 2029) and mounted on dry-slick and rain-tread Pirelli tyres. Overall weight is 755 kg, including the driver.
Chassis
[edit]First-generation (third-generation overall)
[edit]The first-generation (third-generation overall) 2011–17 spec GP2/11 car that was used in the first season of the rebranded championship had been designed by Dallara Automobili. The obsolete GP2/11 car was fitted with the old Mecachrome 4.0-litre V8 naturally-aspirated engine as well as a taller and narrower rear wing inspired by those used in Formula One from 2009 to 2016.
Second-generation (fourth-generation overall)
[edit]The F2 Championship used the Dallara F2 2018 chassis from 2018 to 2023.
The cost of a Dallara F2 2018 car is approximately €500,000. This includes the wheels, wings, steering wheel, and other components, but not the engine.
Third-generation (fifth-generation overall)
[edit]The F2 Championship currently uses the Dallara F2 2024 chassis from 2024 to 2029 seasons.
Drivetrain
[edit]The current gearbox is manufactured by Hewland (utilizing the LFSC-200 model) and features an 8-position barrel with ratchet body and software upgrades, as well as a new transverse shaft fixing system designed to facilitate improved gear selection. Currently, the series uses a 6-speed sequential gearbox configuration with electro-hydraulic operation via paddle-shifters with reverse operated by a button on the steering wheel. The clutches of all cars are supplied by ZF Sachs, with the multi-plate clutch operated by a hand-paddle lever.[11]
Wheel rims
[edit]O.Z. Racing has exclusively supplied wheel rims for all cars since 2005. Until 2019, the wheel size of O.Z. Racing F2 wheels was 12 in × 13 in (305 mm × 330 mm) on front and 13.7 in × 13 in (348 mm × 330 mm) on rear. From 2020 onwards, all cars switched to 18 in (457 mm) road car-inspired wheel rims in preparation for expanding to Formula One from 2022 onwards and for data sharing.[12] The new wheel rim sizes measure 12 in × 18 in (305 mm × 457 mm) on fronts and 13.7 in × 18 in (348 mm × 457 mm) on rears.
The wheel rims of all FIA Formula 2 cars are made of magnesium alloy.
Tyres
[edit]Similar to the 2011 change for Formula 1, Pirelli is now the sole tyre supplier for the series. The FIA Formula 2 Championship runs different compounds and sizes as F1 since 2017 (due to the fact that Formula 1's 2017–present tyres are wider, the FIA Formula 2 Championship carried over the pre-2017 Pirelli F1 tyres). The front tyre size is 245/660-R13 (9.6/26-R13) and the rear tyre size is 325/660-R13 (12.8/26-R13) and would be used until the end of the 2019 season. The compounds of Pirelli Formula 2 tyres are currently four dry compounds: purple supersoft, red soft, yellow medium, and white hard. They all carry the P Zero brand. And only one wet compound is blue wet. These carry the Cinturato brand.
The new tyres were unveiled during the 2019 Monza FIA Formula 2 round with 18-inch wheel rims mounted. The tyre sizes will slightly differ from the sizes compared to 2011–2019, but the only changes are the wheel rim diameter increase (275/705-R18 (10.8/27.7-R18) on the fronts and 325/705-R18 (12.8/27.7-R18) on the rears).[13]
Brakes
[edit]Brembo supplies monoblock brake calipers and disc bells, which are exclusive to Formula 2. Carbone Industrie also supplies carbon brake discs and pads for the FIA Formula 2 Championship. The brake discs are 278 mm × 28 mm (10.94 in × 1.10 in) in size.
Fuel tank
[edit]The current Dallara F2 2018's fuel tank carried over the FIA standard Premier FT5 tank with the capacity up to 125 litres.
Refuelling during a race is currently banned due to safety and cost.
Suspension
[edit]The suspension of all FIA Formula 2 Championship cars is upper and lower steel wishbones, pushrod operated, coupled with twin Koni dampers and torsion bars suspension (front) and spring suspension (rear), similar to current Formula One car suspension.
Steering actuation system
[edit]The steering actuation system of all FIA Formula 2 Championship cars are manual, rack and pinion without a power steering system (similar to the IndyCar Series, which also has a manual steering actuation system).
Steering wheel
[edit]Since 2011, XAP Technology exclusively provides the XAP single-seater F2 steering wheel as well as the XAP SX steering wheel dash display for all FIA Formula 2 Championship cars. The XAP steering wheel features 6 buttons in the front with 5 paddles (DRS, gear shift, and clutch) in the back of the steering wheel. From the 2018 season, all FIA Formula 2 Championship cars will utilize the all-new XAP single-seat Formula 2451 S3 steering wheel with a larger dash screen and also three new rotary switches (similar to the current Formula E steering wheel).
Safety
[edit]The most current safety innovations are a top priority of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Front, side, rear, and steering column impact tests are the FIA safety standards. All cars include front and rear roll hoops, impact structures, and monocoque push tests. Anti-intrusion survival cell protection panels have been used since 2011. Wheel retainer safety cables are also featured to avoid wheels flying similar to Formula One, IndyCar Series (known as SWEMS), and other single-seater Formula racing series. The seat belts of all FIA Formula 2 cars are supplied by OMP Racing since the 2018 season (previously Sabelt) with a 6-point seat belt configuration similar to Formula One. From 2018 onwards, the "halo" cockpit protection system has been introduced to protect the drivers in crashes.[14]
Other components
[edit]All FIA Formula 2 cars carry a Marelli-provided electronic control unit (Marvel SRG 480 model) as well as a Marelli PDU 12-42 power supply management unit. Live telemetry is used only for television broadcasts, but the data can be recorded from the ECU to the computer if the car is in the garage and not on the track. Rear-view mirrors for all FIA Formula 2 cars are fully mandated to easily view opponents behind.
Aerodynamics
[edit]The aerodynamics of current Formula 2 cars are currently resembling the Formula One 2017-style aerodynamics with wider and curved front wings and also lower rear wings with parallelogram rear wing plates. Side winglets are also banned. The undertrays of all cars have ground effect features similar to 2022 Formula One cars.[15]
Drag Reduction Systems (DRS)
[edit]Since 2015, the Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) were introduced with the purpose of overtaking maneuver assist by tilting the upper-element rear wing while approaching the opponent less than a second away by activating the DRS paddle behind the steering wheel. The upper-element rear wing angle is the same as a Formula One car, which has over 40 degrees of angle. In the event of rainy conditions, Drag Reduction Systems are automatically deactivated for safety reasons.
Engine
[edit]First-generation (2005–2017)
[edit]Starting in 2005 (under the GP2 Series name), Formula 2 cars were powered by 4.0 litres (244 cubic inches) V8, four-stroke piston, Otto cycle unleaded gasoline-burning, prototype production-based, naturally-aspirated engines, produced by Mecachrome. Per Formula 2 rules, the engines sold for no more than €70,000 and were rev-limited to 10,000 rpm. They produced around 612 hp (456 kW; 620 PS) and weighed up to 148 kg (326 lb).
The valve train is a dual overhead camshaft configuration with four valves per cylinder. The crankshaft is made of alloy steel, with five main bearing caps. The pistons are forged aluminium alloy, while the connecting rods are machined alloy steel. The electronic engine management system is supplied by Magneti Marelli, firing a CDI ignition system. The engine lubrication is a dry sump type, cooled by a single water pump.
Second-generation (2018–present)
[edit]The V634 Turbo engine is a 3.4 litres (207 cubic inches) V6 turbocharged direct injection four-stroke piston Otto cycle 620 hp fuel-efficient engine jointly developed, built, assembled, produced, maintained, and tuned by Mecachrome and Teos Engineering. The engine was unveiled in 2017 along with the new Dallara F2 2018 chassis.[16] Dutch turbocharger company Van Der Lee Turbo Systems currently supplies the turbochargers for all FIA Formula 2 Championship engines.
The all-new engine fuel delivery system is gasoline direct injection instead of traditional ported multi-point electronic indirect injection. The power output of the all-new FIA Formula 2 engine was increased from 612 to 620 hp (456 to 462 kW; 620 to 629 PS). Mecachrome will continue providing new FIA Formula 2 engines from the 2018 season and beyond. The Mecachrome V634 Turbo engine is rev limited down to 8,750 rpm and weighs up to 132 kg (291 lb) including turbocharger. The firing ignition of the Mecachrome V634 Turbo engine is revolutionary digital inductive. The fuel-mass flow restrictor rate of the second-generation FIA Formula 2 Championship engine is roughly rated at 105 kg/h (231 lb/h).
The Mecachrome V634 Turbo 3.4-litre single-turbocharged direct-injected Mecachrome V6 engine is an evolution of the GP3 engine, which is the solely supplied engine for the FIA Formula 2 Championship. With the addition of a single turbo, the engine underwent rigorous dyno testing, ahead of its racing debut. The Mecachrome V634 Turbo engines sell for up to €67,000 per unit by leasing and rebuilding.
The current second-generation FIA Formula 2 engine allocation is limited to one per season and lasts up to 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) after being rebuilt. Mid-season engine changes, including during race weekend, are banned and may result in a grid penalty for the session.
Turbocharger
[edit]Turbochargers were introduced at the start of the 2018 season. The turbo configuration is single-turbocharged and produces up to 1.5 bar (22 psi) of boost pressure. Dutch turbocharger company Van Der Lee Turbo Systems currently supplies the turbochargers for all FIA Formula 2 Championship all-new engines using the MT134-50120 model. The turbocharger spin limit is 130,000 rpm but cannot exceed 125,000 rpm due to lower turbo boost pressure.
Fuel and lubricant components
[edit]All Formula 2 cars currently use ordinary unleaded racing gasoline as fuel (similar to commercial vehicle unleaded street gasoline), which has been the de facto standard in second tier single-seater formula racing since the introduction of GP2 Series in 2005. Since the start of the 2005 GP2 Series season, Elf has exclusively continued to be the exclusive provider of the LMS 102 RON unleaded fuel and also Elf HTX 840 0W-40 lubricants for all competitors in the FIA Formula 2 Championship until 2022.
In 2023, Aramco became the official fuel partner and supplier of all FIA Formula 2 Championship entrants.[17]
Other parts
[edit]The car also features internal cooling upgrades, a new water radiator, radiator duct, oil/water heat exchanger, modified oil degasser, new oil and water pipes, and new heat exchanger fixing brackets.
Performance
[edit]Formula 2 cars are among the fastest circuit racing cars in the world, beaten only by Formula One, and possibly IndyCar and the Japanese Super Formula Championship, but faster than most other categories.
While Formula 2 cars can accelerate extremely quickly and have a high top speed of around 335 km/h (in their lowest-downforce configuration), the key difference between F2 cars and road-registerable Supercars or production-based touring car racing vehicles and lower-tier feeder categories such as Formula 3 is their cornering and braking capabilities. This is due primarily to the amount of downforce the cars produce. Formula 2 cars can produce as much as 3.9 g of lateral acceleration and 3.6 g of braking force.[18] This compares to around 2.6 lateral G for Formula 3.[19] A Porsche Carrera Cup car, a production-based racing car with large front and rear wings, produces a maximum of around 1.7 lateral g.[20]
As an example of the differences between the FIA formula categories, at the Albert Park circuit, the Formula 2 lap record is 1:28.989, set in practice in 2023.[21] The Formula One lap record is considerably faster, at 1.19.813.[22] The Formula 3 lap record is 1.33.025.[23]
Direct comparison between IndyCar and F2 is more difficult given that they rarely compete at the same circuit, but Christian Lundgaard stated, after racing both, that the IndyCar is faster (on road courses). IndyCar average and top speeds around superspeedways are far higher than achieved in circuit racing.
Liam Lawson, who at the time had tested Formula One cars, raced Formula Two, and raced Super Formula, stated in 2023 about the Super Formula series that "the car is extremely fast, faster than Formula 2, and a lot closer to Formula 1, and sometimes it even feels like F1 in some corners. Downforce is pretty exceptional."[24]
Specifications
[edit]2017
[edit]- Engine displacement: 4.0 litres (244 cubic inches) DOHC V8
- Gearbox: 6-speed sequential paddle shift (must have reverse)
- Weight: 688 kg (1,517 lb) (including driver)
- Power output: 612 hp (456 kW)
- Fuel: Elf LMS 89.6 MON, 101.6 RON, 99.6 AKI unleaded
- Fuel capacity: 125 litres (33 US gallons)
- Fuel delivery: Fuel injection (ported multi-point electronic indirect)
- Aspiration: Naturally-aspirated
- Length: 5,065 mm (199 in)
- Width: 1,800 mm (71 in)
- Wheelbase: 3,120 mm (123 in)
- Steering: Manual, rack and pinion (no power steering)
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero slick dry and Pirelli Cinturato treaded full-wet
2018–2023
[edit]- Engine displacement: 3.4 litres (207 cubic inches) DOHC V6
- Gearbox: 6-speed sequential paddle shift (must have reverse)
- Weight: 720 kg (1,587 lb) in 2018; later, 755 kg (1,664 lb) since 2020–2023, including driver and fuel
- Power output: 620 hp (462 kW)
- Fuel: Elf LMS 89.6 MON, 101.6 RON, 99.6 AKI unleaded later Aramco Advanced 55% sustainable fuels + 45% unleaded racing gasoline (2023)
- Fuel capacity: 125 litres (33 US gallons)
- Fuel delivery: Gasoline direct injection that produced over 200 bar (2,900.75 psi) of GDI pressure
- Aspiration: Single-turbocharged
- Turbo boost level pressure: Restricted to 1.5 bar (21.76 psi)
- Length: 5,224 mm (206 in)
- Width: 1,900 mm (75 in)
- Wheelbase: 3,135 mm (123 in)
- Steering: Manual, rack and pinion (no power steering)
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero slick dry and Pirelli Cinturato treaded full-wet
2024–present
[edit]- Engine displacement: 3.4 litres (207 cubic inches) DOHC V6
- Gearbox: 6-speed sequential paddle shift (must have reverse)
- Weight: 755 kg (1,664 lb) including driver and fuel
- Power output: 620 hp (462 kW)
- Fuel: Aramco Advanced 55% sustainable fuels + 45% unleaded racing gasoline
- Fuel capacity: 125 litres (33 US gallons)
- Fuel delivery: Gasoline direct injection that produced over 200 bar (2,900.75 psi) of GDI pressure
- Aspiration: Single-turbocharged
- Turbo boost level pressure: Restricted to 1.5 bar (21.76 psi)
- Length: 5,284 mm (208 in)
- Width: 1,900 mm (75 in)
- Wheelbase: 3,135 mm (123 in)
- Steering: Manual, rack and pinion (no power steering)
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero slick dry and Pirelli Cinturato treaded full-wet
History
[edit]2017
[edit]The 2017 season consisted of eleven rounds, ten of which supported the 2017 Formula One World Championship and a stand-alone event at the Circuito de Jerez.[1] It began at Bahrain International Circuit on 15 April and concluded at Yas Marina Circuit on 26 November. This was the final season for the Dallara GP2/11 chassis, which debuted in 2011 when the series was known as GP2, and the Mecachrome 4.0 litre (244 cu in) V8 naturally-aspirated engine package, which debuted in the inaugural GP2 season in 2005.
The season saw rookie and reigning GP3 Series champion Charles Leclerc,[25] driving for Prema Racing, take the drivers' title with seven race wins. The inaugural teams' championship was taken by Russian Time. Russian Time driver Artem Markelov finished the season as runner-up, and DAMS driver Oliver Rowland was third.
2018
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The 2018 season consisted of twelve rounds, all supporting the 2018 Formula One World Championship, beginning in Bahrain on 7 April and concluding in Abu Dhabi on 25 November. The 2018 season also introduced the new Dallara F2 2018 car as well as the all-new Mecachrome 3.4 litre (207 cu in) V6 turbo engine with a large single turbo and a double wastegate, supplied by Dutch turbocharger manufacturer Van Der Lee Turbo Systems. The car also featured the Halo safety device for the first time, a device that was introduced into Formula One in the same year. The Racing Engineering and Rapax teams left the series prior to the 2018 season, having competed in Formula 2 and the predecessor GP2 Series since 2005 and 2010, respectively. Carlin returned to the series after a year's absence, and Charouz Racing System joined the championship after the World Series Formula V8 3.5 was discontinued.
Carlin went on to win the Teams' Championship for the first time, having not done so during their time in the GP2 Series. The Drivers' Championship was won by rookie and reigning GP3 Series champion George Russell,[26] who drove for ART Grand Prix and took seven race victories. Carlin driver Lando Norris finished as runner-up with DAMS driver Alexander Albon in third.[27][28]
2019
[edit]The 2019 season consisted of twelve rounds supporting the 2019 Formula One World Championship, beginning in Bahrain on 30 March and concluding in Abu Dhabi on 1 December. Russian Time left the championship prior to the start of the season, having competed in Formula 2 and GP2 since 2013. The team was sold and became UNI-Virtuosi Racing.
On 31 August 2019, on the second lap of the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps, a high-speed accident occurred involving Anthoine Hubert, Juan Manuel Correa, and Giuliano Alesi. Hubert and Correa were taken to the circuit's medical centre, where Hubert died from his injuries.[29] Correa's injuries forced him to miss the rest of the season, while Alesi was unhurt. The race was abandoned, and the sprint race on the following day was cancelled as a mark of respect. The Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the circuit on the day after the accident began with a moment of silence. Most drivers wore a black ribbon in memory. 2017 Formula 2 champion Charles Leclerc, a friend of Hubert, achieved his first victory in Formula One and dedicated the win to Hubert.[30]
The French team DAMS won the Teams' Championship, having last done so in 2014. The Drivers' Championship was won by ART Grand Prix driver Nyck de Vries in his third year of Formula 2, taking four race victories. DAMS driver Nicholas Latifi finished as runner-up with UNI-Virtuosi Racing driver Luca Ghiotto in third.[31]
2020
[edit]Hitech Grand Prix, who had briefly entered the 2005 GP2 Series in partnership with Piquet GP and had since raced only in Formula Three championships, entered Formula 2 as the eleventh team. Arden, who had raced in Formula 2 and its predecessors since 1997, left the series. Their entry was taken over by the HWA Team and became BWT HWA Racelab. The season was due to begin in Bahrain on 21 March and was set to include a round at Circuit Zandvoort for the first time, replacing the round at Circuit Paul Ricard. However, a number of races were postponed or cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new calendar was published. The season began at the Red Bull Ring on 4 July and ran alongside the first ten rounds of the 2020 Formula One World Championship, and concluded on 6 December after two rounds in Bahrain.
Prema Racing secured the Teams' Championship for the first time since the 2016 GP2 Series. Prema driver Mick Schumacher won the Drivers' Championship in his second year of Formula 2 with two race victories.[32] UNI-Virtuosi driver Callum Ilott was runner-up with Carlin's Yuki Tsunoda third.[33]
2021
[edit]As part of a new cost-cutting measure, each round of the 2021 championship featured three races instead of two, and the number of rounds was reduced from twelve to eight. The calendar was also separated from the FIA Formula 3 Championship calendar, meaning the two series were scheduled to not appear at the same Grand Prix weekend.[c] As a result, the Red Bull Ring, Hungaroring, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Circuit Paul Ricard, and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, tracks that traditionally appeared on the Formula 2 calendar prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, were no longer included. A round at the newly built Jeddah Street Circuit was added to the calendar. The championship began in Bahrain on 27 March and concluded in Abu Dhabi on 12 December.
Prema Racing claimed their second consecutive Teams' Championship with three races remaining, becoming the first team in the sport's history to win more than one constructor's title. Prema driver Oscar Piastri took six race victories on his way to winning the Drivers' Championship in his debut year, becoming the first non-European to do so and, as of September 2024, is the only champion to also simultaneously win the Anthoine Hubert Award. Piastri's teammate Robert Shwartzman was the runner-up, and UNI-Virtuosi driver Zhou Guanyu finished third.
2022
[edit]The 2022 championship marked the return of the pre-2021 race format with two races per round,[d] but with the points offered for sprint races, pole positions, and fastest laps reduced. The calendar was expanded, with twenty-eight races taking place over fourteen rounds. The Red Bull Ring, Hungaroring, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps all returned to the calendar, and rounds at Imola Circuit and Circuit Zandvoort took place for the first time. The round at Sochi Autodrom was cancelled along with the Formula One Russian Grand Prix due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was replaced by a round at Circuit Paul Ricard. The championship began in Bahrain on 19 March and concluded in Abu Dhabi on 20 November. HWA Racelab left the series, and their place was taken by Van Amersfoort Racing.
MP Motorsport claimed their first Teams' Championship in Formula 2. Their driver, Felipe Drugovich, in his third year of Formula 2, won the drivers' championship. He took five race victories and clinched the title with three races remaining. Runner-up was ART Grand Prix's Théo Pourchaire, with Carlin's Liam Lawson third.
2023
[edit]The 2023 championship featured a round at the Albert Park Circuit alongside the Australian Grand Prix for the first time. Circuit Paul Ricard was removed from the calendar as the French Grand Prix did not take place in 2023. The season was therefore set to feature fourteen rounds; however, the round at Imola Circuit was cancelled along with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after severe flooding in the area. The championship began in Bahrain on 4 March and is due to conclude in Abu Dhabi on 26 November. Two teams changed ownership for 2023; Carlin became Rodin Carlin after New Zealand-based manufacturer Rodin Cars became the majority shareholder in the team, and Charouz Racing System, which had competed since 2018, sold their operation to PHM Racing whilst continuing to support the entry under the name PHM Racing by Charouz.
ART Grand Prix and their driver Théo Pourchaire clinched both championships at the final race; ART's Teams' Championship victory was their first in the second tier since 2015. Pourchaire's title came in his third year in the series, having been runner-up the previous year. Prema's Frederik Vesti placed second in the Drivers' Championship, and Virtuosi driver Jack Doohan finished third. It was the first year in the championship's history where no driver on the grid graduated to Formula One full-time the next year.
2024
[edit]The series introduced a new car in 2024 titled the Dallara F2 2024, having used the Dallara F2 2018 for the previous six years.[34] The calendar is due to feature fourteen rounds, with the first race in Bahrain on 1 March and the finale in Abu Dhabi on 8 December. The round at Imola Circuit returned to the calendar after its cancellation in 2023, and the series is set to make its debut at Lusail International Circuit supporting the Qatar Grand Prix, replacing the round at Circuit Zandvoort.[35]
Champions and awards
[edit]Drivers'
[edit]| Season | Driver | Team | Poles | Wins | Podiums | Fastest laps | Points | % points achievable | Clinched | Margin | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |  Charles Leclerc
|
 Prema Racing
|
8 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 282 | 53.409 | 2017 Jerez Feature Race | 72 | [36] |
| 2018 |  George Russell
|
ART Grand Prix
|
5 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 287 | 49.826 | 2018 Yas Island Feature Race | 68 | [37] |
| 2019 |  Nyck de Vries
|
ART Grand Prix
|
5 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 266 | 50.000 | 2019 Sochi Feature Race | 52 | [38] |
| 2020 |  Mick Schumacher
|
Prema Racing
|
0 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 215 | 37.885 | 2020 2nd Sakhir Sprint Race | 14 | [39] |
| 2021 |  Oscar Piastri
|
Prema Racing
|
5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 252.5 | 51.583 | 2021 Yas Island Sprint Race 1 | 60.5 | [40] |
| 2022 |  Felipe Drugovich
|
MP Motorsport
|
4 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 265 | 48.535 | 2022 Monza Sprint Race | 101 | [41] |
| 2023 | Théo Pourchaire
|
ART Grand Prix
|
2 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 203 | 40.927 | 2023 Yas Island Feature Race | 11 | [42] |
Teams'
[edit]| Season | Team | Poles | Wins | Podiums | Fastest laps | Points | % points achievable | Clinched | Margin | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |  Russian Time
|
1 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 395 | 46.037 | 2017 Yas Island Sprint Race | 15 | [36] |
| 2018 | Carlin
|
2 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 383 | 40.919 | 2018 Yas Island Feature Race | 33 | [37] |
| 2019 | DAMS
|
2 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 418 | 48.492 | 2019 Yas Island Feature Race | 72 | [38] |
| 2020 | Prema Racing
|
0 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 392 | 42.539 | 2020 2nd Sakhir Feature Race | 37.5 | [39] |
| 2021 | Prema Racing
|
5 | 8 | 19 | 9 | 444.5 | 55.252 | 2021 Jeddah Feature Race | 156.5 | [40] |
| 2022 | MP Motorsport
|
4 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 305 | 33.516 | 2022 Yas Island Feature Race | 8 | [41] |
| 2023 | ART Grand Prix
|
5 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 353 | 42.736 | 2023 Yas Island Feature Race | 31 | [42] |
Anthoine Hubert Award
[edit]The Anthoine Hubert Award was introduced at the prize-giving ceremony in Monaco in 2019, named in memory of Anthoine Hubert, who died during the 2019 Spa-Francorchamps round. The award is given to the highest-placed driver in their first Formula 2 season; the award is equivalent to 'Rookie/Newcomer of the Year' awards in other sports.[43]
| Season | Driver | Team | Poles | Wins | Podiums | Fastest laps | Points | D.C. | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |  Zhou Guanyu
|
UNI-Virtuosi Racing
|
1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 140 | 7th | [38] |
| 2020 |  Yuki Tsunoda
|
Carlin
|
4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 200 | 3rd | [39] |
| 2021 | Oscar Piastri
|
Prema Racing
|
5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 252.5 | 1st | [40] |
| 2022 | Ayumu Iwasa[e]
|
DAMS
|
2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 141 | 5th | [41] |
| 2023 | Victor Martins
|
ART Grand Prix
|
3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 150 | 5th | [42] |
Drivers who graduated to Formula One
[edit]The first FIA Formula 2 drivers to graduate to Formula One were Charles Leclerc and Sergey Sirotkin, both of whom made their Formula One debuts in 2018 with Sauber and Williams, respectively. Leclerc was the champion of the inaugural FIA Formula 2 season, while Sirotkin had made a one-round appearance in the championship as a reserve driver, but had previously competed in the predecessor GP2 Series, finishing third in the 2015 and 2016 championships. The 2019 Formula One World Championship saw three new Formula 2 graduates: 2018 champion George Russell, runner-up Lando Norris, and third-place finisher Alex Albon, who debuted with Williams, McLaren, and Toro Rosso, respectively. 2019 FIA Formula 2 runner-up Nicholas Latifi was the only graduate at the start of 2020, joining Williams, but 2019 fifth-placed finisher Jack Aitken also made his Formula One debut in 2020 with a single appearance at the Sakhir Grand Prix in his capacity as Williams's reserve driver.
2021 featured three new graduates from the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Champion Mick Schumacher and fifth-placed Nikita Mazepin joined Haas, and third-placed Yuki Tsunoda debuted with AlphaTauri. Zhou Guanyu, who finished third in the 2021 Formula 2 Championship, was the only graduate to join the Formula One grid at the beginning of 2022, although 2019 Formula 2 champion Nyck de Vries made his debut at the Italian Grand Prix with Williams as a reserve driver. De Vries had raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Formula E (of which he was champion in 2021) since winning the Formula 2 title; he would later join the grid full-time with AlphaTauri in 2023. Two new drivers debuted in Formula One at the start of 2023. Oscar Piastri, who was Formula 2 champion in 2021 and served as Alpine's reserve driver in 2022, signed with McLaren, and 2022 Formula 2 Championship fourth-place finisher Logan Sargeant signed with Williams.[45] The 2023 season also saw the debut of Liam Lawson, who finished third in Formula 2 in 2022 and made reserve driver appearances for AlphaTauri whilst also competing in Super Formula.
No Formula 2 graduates joined the Formula One grid at the start of 2024; however, two drivers made in-season debuts. Oliver Bearman, who finished sixth in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship, competed in three Grands Prix; the Saudi Arabian for Ferrari, and the Azerbaijan and São Paulo Grands Prix for Haas in his capacity as reserve driver for both teams. He is set to drive for Haas full-time in 2025. Franco Colapinto ended his 2024 campaign mid-season to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the year. Lawson is the most recent graduate, replacing Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of 2024 at RB Formula One Team. The 2025 Formula One World Championship is due to feature three further debutants as 2023 third-place finisher Jack Doohan joins Alpine, 2024 race-winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli debuts with Mercedes, and 2024 championship contender Gabriel Bortoleto joins Sauber.
- Bold denotes an active Formula One driver.
Circuits
[edit]- Bold denotes a current Formula One Circuit.
- Italic denotes a former Formula One Circuit.
Television rights
[edit]The television rights are held by Formula One Management, which also manages the rights to Formula One. Sky Sports F1 shows every practice, qualifying, and race live in the United Kingdom, and so does Movistar Fórmula 1 in Spain, Sport TV in Portugal, and Viaplay in Poland. Coverage in North America is available exclusively on TSN5 (Canada) and ESPN3 (USA). In Southeast Asia, the races are shown live on Fox Sports Asia. Band Sports shows live F2 in Brazil, and Fox Sports 3 broadcasts in Hispanic America. In India, Star Sports covers the races live. In Russia, races were shown on the Match! Arena channel, showing races in 2019 (only the 2019 Russian round) and all races in 2020 and 2021. The contract was denied in 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The Monte Carlo Formula 2 round is run to 100 kilometres, instead of the usual 120 kilometres.
- ^ The Monte Carlo Formula 2 round is run to 140 kilometres and the Budapest Formula 2 round is run to 160 kilometres, instead of the usual 170 kilometres.
- ^ The final round of the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship, initially set to take place at the Circuit of the Americas, was moved to the Russian Grand Prix weekend. This meant that Formula 2 and Formula 3 coincided at this event.
- ^ The two-race format was altered; the sprint race now took place before the feature race with its starting grid based on the reversal of the top ten in qualifying.
- ^ Logan Sargeant finished first in the rookie standings, but the Anthoine Hubert award was awarded to Ayumu Iwasa, as Sargeant had previously raced in Formula 2 in 2021.[44]
References
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- ^ Newton, Adam (19 September 2020). "Nicholas Latifi". www.insideF2.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
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- ^ Buckle, Luke-John (19 June 2021). "F2 Graduates: Yuki Tsunoda". www.insideF2.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
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- ^ a b c "FIA Formula 2 Championship Standings 2021". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "FIA Formula 2 Championship Standings 2022". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "FIA Formula 2 Championship Standings 2023". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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