Beginner's Guide to Formula 2
Formula 201
(Source - FIA F2)
Formula 2 has many different rules and regulations than Formula 1. Here is some key information to know.
Teams and Drivers:
In Formula 2, there are 22 drivers and 11 teams; which equals 2 drivers per team. Each team's car is the same as FI, in terms of engine, chassis, dimensions, steering, etc. This is so the skills of the drivers are the main focal point of each race.
The racer’s skill is determined and based on a simple point-scoring system and is reflected by the position they end the race (Ex: 1st place, 5th place, etc). The driver who scores the most points at the end of the season wins the Driver’s Championship.
Another championship within Formula 2, called the Constructors Championship, is based on r team scores the most points at the end of the system.
Points (Featured Race)
The points system is quite easy to understand. The position the driver earns has an allotted amount of points associated with it, as follows
1st place: 25 points
2nd place: 18 points
3rd place: 15 points
4th place: 12 points
5th place: 10 points
6th place: 8 points
7th place: 6 points
8th place: 4 points
9th place: 2 points
10th place 1 points
Position 11th through 20th does not earn any points for that race.
Points (Sprint Race)
1st place: 10 points
2nd place: 8 points
3rd place: 6 points
4th place: 5 points
5th place: 4 points
6th place: 3 points
7th place: 2 points
8th place: 1 points
The Race Weekend
Races are held on Sunday (or Saturdays in the US) and this day is when the drivers earn points. Many events will happen before the featured race. A typical race weekend schedule should be as follows:
Friday - Free Practice
Friday - Qualifiers
Saturday - Sprint Race
Sunday - Featured Race day
So how do these events affect race day?
Practice
Practice is very vital to every racing championship (F1, F2, F3, F4, F1 Academy), as the drivers and teams are not allowed to practice and/or use their cars until practice day. Drivers can participate in free practice. Free practice is when drivers get to test out the track in person and test their cars.
Drivers also get the chance to get a feel for the track and how the car responds. Drivers, through the on-season and off-season, will practice by using hyper-realistic racing simulations. These simulations are a great tool for learning the different circuits and the car, but nothing is as good as the real deal.
Qualifiers
Qualifiers differ in F2 than they do in F1. In F1, 3 rounds of qualifiers will gradually eliminate the slowest drivers. In F1, at the end of the qualifiers, the fastest driver will end up in the Pole Position (first position).
F2 qualifiers do not have rounds, instead, qualifiers are 30 minutes long and each driver is welcome to try and get their fastest lap time during the 30 minutes. The top 10 drivers will be placed slowest to fastest, for the sprint race the following day.
The Sprint Race
The sprint race is an important way for teams and drivers to score more points during the week. The sprint race is 120km or 45 minutes long, or whichever one comes first. The sprint race is a standalone event that showcases the drivers’ skills and abilities.
Finally, the top 10 driver’s with the fastest lap time will line up slowest to fastest. For example, the driver in 10th position actually had the fastest lap time. The point of the sprint race is to challenge the racer’s while they make their way through “traffic”. Positions 11-20 remain the same on the grid (aka the positions they line up at). Drivers and teams earn points for these races.
The Featured Race
The featured race, is the circuit that Formula 1 and 2 drivers will race. Formula 2 teams/drivers will be the first to race the track that weekend, as Formula 2 races do not last as long as Formula 1 races. The 2024 season will consist of 14 races
Each track varies on lap amount. Listed below is the name and location of the races, circuits, and lap lengths in order of when they will be raced in the 2024 season. Please note some of the lap times have been estimated based on the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Format: Grand Prix (GP) - Circuit - Sprint Race (SR) Laps - Featured Race (FR)Laps
Bahrain GP - Bahrain International - 23 SR laps - 32 FR laps
Saudi Arabia GP - Jeddah Street Circuit - 20 SR laps - 28 FR laps
Austrilian GP - Melbourne GP Circuit - 23 SR laps - 33 FR laps
Imola GP - Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari - 25 SR laps - 35 FR laps
Monaco GP - Circuit de Monaco - 30 SR laps - 39 FR laps
Spanish GP - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 26 SR laps - 37 FR laps
Austrian GP - Red Bull Ring - 27 SR laps - 30 FR laps
British GP - Silverstone - 19 SR laps - 29 FR laps
Hungarian GP - Hungarorian - 28 SR laps - 37 FR laps
Belgian GP - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Aka Spa) - 17 SR laps - 25 FR laps
Italian GP - Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (Aka Monza)- 21 SR laps - 30 laps
Azerbaijan GP- Baku City - 21 SR laps - 29 FR laps
Qatar Gp - Lusail Circuit - New Venue - No Data
Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina Circuit - 23 SR laps - 33 FR laps
Teams and Drivers
Below is a list of the current teams from the 2024 season:
Rodin Motorsports
Drivers: Ritomo Miyata and Zane Maloney
Team Manager: Benn Huntingford
(Left to Right: Zane Maloney and Ritomo Miyata - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Invicta Racing
Drivers: Kush Maini and Gabriel Bortoleto
Team Principal: Andy Roche and Declan Lohan
(Left to right: Kush Maini and Gabriel Bortoleto - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
MP Motorsport
Drivers: Dennis Hauger and Franco Colapinto
Team Principal: Sander Dorsman
(Left to right: Franco Colapinto and Dennis Hauger - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Hitech Pulse-Eight
Drivers: Amuary Cordeel and Paul Aron
Team Principal: Oliver Oakes
(Left to right: Paul Aron and Amuary Cordeel - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Van Amersfoort
Drivers: Enzo Fittipaldi and Rafael Villagómez
Team Principal: Frits Van Ammersfoort
(Left to right: Enzo Fittipaldo and Rafael Villagómez - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Campos
Drivers: Isack Hadjar and Josep Maria Martí
Team Principal: Andrián Campos Jr.
(Left to right: Isack Hadjar and Josep María Martí - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Dams Lucas Oil
Drivers: Jak Crawford and Juan Manuel Correa
Team Principal: Yannick Hubert
(Left to right: Jak Crawford and Juan Manuel Correa - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Art Grand Prix
Drivers: Victor Martins and Zak O’Sullivan
Team Principal: Sébastein Philippe
(Left to right: Victor Martins and Zak O’Sullivan - Image source: FIA Formula 2)
Prema Racing
Drivers: Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Team Principal: Réne Rosin
(Left to right - Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli - Image source: F1 Oversteer)
Trident
Drivers: Richard Verschoor and Roman Stanek
Team Principal: Maurizio Salvadori
(F2 Drivers listed top row - Image Source: Trident via X.com)
PHM AIX Racing
Drivers: Joshua Dürksen and Taylor Barnard
Team Principal: Paul Muller
(Left to right: Joshua Dürksen and Taylor Barnard - Image source: FIA Formula 2
Conclusion
This is the basic information a person will need to follow the 2024 racing season. Each week, I will update the leaderboard (posted on the next page), and give general information and updates about the most current events in Formula 2.
PS - If you found this Substack by researching F2, please note that I have a F1 beginner guide as well.
Sources:
https://www.fiaformula2.com/About/ey1hQTCs7BVYMl34JLpxD/the-championship-f2
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/3eHWhcXiSGFf8C1esMkUuI/rodin-carlin-confirm-2024-lineup-with-zane-maloney-and-ritomo-miyata
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/6y9ch1ow8QLQhBrdKvlQyB/invicta-virtuosi-racing-announce-gabriel-bortoleto-and-kush-maini-for-2024
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/1HBG8FALICk2KOD2539fDd/how-hauger-and-colapinto-can-inspire-mp-motorsport-to-the-title-in-2024
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/26xzg64RCw8VuIMpQ3rXhP/hitech-pulse-eight-confirm-paul-aron-and-amaury-cordeel-for-2024-lineup
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/4JDb17cJOp3QgdQIqLuF77/isack-hadjar-and-josep-maria-marti-join-campos-racing-for-2024-f2-season
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/2znq4oZj1lUnEZoN58sy6Y/correa-and-crawford-arrive-with-high-hopes-at-dams-lucas-oil
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/karun-chandhok-explains-why-oliver-bearman-ferrari-call-up-will-help-andrea-kimi-antonelli/