Motorsport Explained: Formula 2

The FIA Formula 2 Championship, also known simply as F2, is a second-tier single-seater championship organised by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The championship was introduced in 2017 following the rebranding of the previous long-term Formula One feeder series GP2.

The premise of Formula 2 is 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, meaning all the teams are required to use the same chassis, engine and tyre supplier.

Race Weekend

Friday

Free Practice:

In the morning on a Friday, the drivers are given the chance to practice on circuit for 45 minutes, which is useful for learning the layout of the track and testing the set-up of their car. The relaying of data to the team is vital in optimising their set-up for the qualifying session later in the day.

Qualifying:

On the Friday afternoon, the drivers take to the track to complete a 30-minute qualifying session to decide the grid for the Feature race on the Sunday. Unlike Formula One’s knock-out style qualification session, Formula 2 allows the drivers to set multiple times throughout the entire 30-minute session, with the best time at the end of the session taking pole position.

The driver who takes pole position following the final classification of the qualifying session is awarded 2 additional points.

Saturday

Sprint Race:

The Sprint race runs over a distance of 120km or 45 minutes, whichever condition is met first. There are some exceptions to this distance, including some tracks like Monaco where the race distance is 100km.

The starting grid for the Saturday’s Sprint race is determined by reversing the top-10 finishers of the qualifying session that took place the day before.

The top eight classified drivers after the chequered flag is flown are awarded points. First place is awarded the maximum haul of points and then the points are reduced the further down the grid a driver finishes.

Position	Points
1st	10
2nd	8
3rd	6
4th	5
5th	4
6th	3
7th	2
8th	1

One point is also awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap in each race, provided they are classified in the top-ten positions at the end of the race. If a driver claims the fastest lap point but is outside the top-10 then the point is awarded to the driver with the next fastest lap that is within the top-10.

Sunday

Feature Race:

The main race of the weekend takes place on the Sunday, with the race either running to a distance of 170km or 60 minutes, whichever comes first. The feature race includes a mandatory pit-stop that all drivers have to make over the course of the race (unless the race is deemed as wet).

The top ten classified drivers after the chequered flag is flown are awarded points. First place is awarded the maximum haul of points and then the points are reduced the further down the grid a driver finishes.

Position	Points
1st	25
2nd	18
3rd	15
4th	12
5th	10
6th	8
7th	6
8th	4
9th	2
10th	1

Tyre Allocation

The sporting regulations state that each driver will be allocated five sets of dry-weather tyres per weekend. They will be given three “prime” specification sets and two of the “option” specification. Each driver is also allocated with three sets of wet-weather tyres.

DRS

The drivers are able to use the Drag Reduction System (DRS) as they wish within the designated DRS zones during Free Practice and Qualifying. During both of the races however, the drivers are only allowed to activate DRS within the designated zones when they are within less than a second of the car in front at the detection point.

During the race, the DRS is available for use after two laps unless decided otherwise by the race director due to poor weather conditions or yellow flags being flown in the designated DRS zones – these zones are the same as those used in Formula 1 on every circuit of the calendar.

The same safety rules apply as that of Formula One: the DRS is disabled at the end of the designated zones, and the first time the driver uses the brakes after activation. No individual developments or upgrades are permitted in the series, and all spare parts must be purchased directly from the F2 championship organisers. Repairs of structural components must be carried out by Dallara in order to ensure integrity.

Numbering System

The numbering system in the FIA Formula 2 Championship is currently based on the previous season’s team standings (similar to the numbering system used in Formula One between 1996 and 2013), except for the number 13, which has not been used since the formation of the GP2 Series in 2005 until present.

Since the 2020 season, the number 19 (and later the number 18) has been retired to honor Anthoine Hubert, who sustained fatal injuries racing in a Formula 2 race supporting the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix whilst driving a car numbered 19.

Pathway to Formula One

Within the FIA Formula 2 Championship there are Super Licence points awarded based on a drivers’ position in the top-10 of the standings at the conclusion of the season

Position in Standings	Super Licence Points
1st	40
2nd	40
3rd	40
4th	30
5th	20
6th	10
7th	8
8th	6
9th	4
10th	3

Champions

Drivers’ Champions

Year	Champion	Points
2017	Charles Leclerc	282
2018	George Russell	287
2019	Nyck de Vries	266
2020	Mick Schumacher	215
2021	Oscar Piastri	252.5
2022	Felipe Drugovich	265
2023	Theo Pourchaire	203
2024	Gabriel Bortoleto	214.5

Charles Leclerc – 2017

George Russell – 2018

Nyck de Vries – 2019

Mick Schumacher – 2020

Oscar Piastri – 2021

Felipe Drugovich – 2022

Theo Pourchaire – 2023

Gabriel Bortoleto – 2024

Teams’ Champions

Year	Champion	Points
2017	Russian Time	395
2018	Carlin	383
2019	DAMS	418
2020	Prema Racing	392
2021	Prema Racing	444.5
2022	MP Motorsport	305
2023	ART Grand Prix	353
2024	Invicta Racing	288.5

Anthoine Hubert Award

The Anthoine Hubert Awards is named in memory of Anthoine Hubert, who died during the 2019 Spa-Francorchamps round. It is awarded to the highest-placed driver in their first Formula 2 season (the equivalent to a ‘Rookie/Newcomer of the Year’ award in other sports).