FIA Formula 2 Championship

The FIA Formula 2 Championship is more than just a race series; it's the ultimate proving ground for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, a high-stakes arena where raw talent meets cutting-edge engineering. Here, future champions are forged, battling wheel-to-wheel in identical machinery designed to mirror the demands of motorsport's pinnacle. Discover how this feeder series creates the perfect crucible for greatness, shaping the next generation of global racing icons. Formula 2 serves as the direct, final step on the ladder to Formula 1, designed to prepare drivers for its unique challenges. As a 'spec series,' F2 mandates identical cars for all teams, ensuring that driver skill and team strategy are the sole determinants of success. F2 cars are advanced machines, constantly evolving with features like ground effect aerodynamics and the 'Halo' safety device to align with Formula 1 technology.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Formula 2 serves as the direct, final step on the ladder to Formula 1, designed to prepare drivers for its unique challenges.
As a 'spec series,' F2 mandates identical cars for all teams, ensuring that driver skill and team strategy are the sole determinants of success.
F2 cars are advanced machines, constantly evolving with features like ground effect aerodynamics and the 'Halo' safety device to align with Formula 1 technology.

The Ultimate Stepping Stone: What is Formula 2?

Imagine a world where the fastest young drivers from across the globe converge, all vying for a single, coveted prize: a seat in Formula 1. That's the FIA Formula 2 Championship—the final, most intense test before reaching motorsport's top tier. It's where dreams are either realized or deferred, often in spectacular fashion.

A Level Playing Field

What makes F2 so compelling is its 'spec series' philosophy. Every team is required to use the exact same chassis, engine, and tire supplier. This isn't about who can spend the most on development; it's about pure driving talent, precision engineering, and the shrewd strategies of the teams. It's a genuine test of skill.

From GP2 to F2: A Rebranding Story

The modern F2 championship, introduced in 2017, evolved from the hugely popular GP2 Series, which itself had a long history as a Formula 1 feeder. The rebranding under the FIA's banner aimed to streamline the motorsport ladder, ensuring a clear and direct pathway for drivers. It was a pivotal moment for junior single-seater racing.

The Numbering System

Even the car numbers tell a story. F2 uses a system based on the previous season's team standings, similar to historical Formula 1 practices. Notably, number 13 has been retired since GP2's inception in 2005, and more recently, numbers 18 and 19 were permanently withdrawn to honor Anthoine Hubert, a promising driver tragically lost during a race in 2019.

The Race Weekend: A Whirlwind of Action

An F2 race weekend is a condensed, high-intensity affair, meticulously designed to push drivers and teams to their limits. It kicks off with a single 45-minute free practice session, followed swiftly by a crucial 30-minute qualifying session. There's no time to waste—every lap matters.

Sprint Race Thrills

Saturday brings the Sprint Race, a shorter, action-packed event that often produces some of the most exciting battles. The grid for this race is determined by reversing the top 10 finishers from Friday's qualifying, creating immediate drama and demanding daring overtakes from the front-runners. It's a true test of racecraft.

The Feature Race: Grand Finale

The main event, the Feature Race, takes place on Sunday, typically just before the Formula 1 Grand Prix. This longer race demands strategic thinking, with a mandatory pit stop requiring a full set of tire changes. Drivers must manage their tires and fuel, making it a comprehensive simulation of F1 race conditions.

Earning Every Point

Points are awarded in both races, but the Feature Race carries significantly more weight, reflecting its strategic importance. Bonus points are also up for grabs for pole position and the fastest lap, if the driver finishes in the top 10. The maximum a driver can score in a single round is 39 points, making every session crucial.

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

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

The F2 Car: A Marvel of Engineering

The FIA Formula 2 car is a bespoke, single-seater racing machine, meticulously engineered to be both challenging for drivers and cost-effective for teams. Italian manufacturer Dallara builds the carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, a rigid and incredibly strong core designed to protect the driver while providing exceptional aerodynamic efficiency.

Chassis Evolution

The F2 chassis has seen several iterations, with each new model incorporating advancements that reflect those in Formula 1. From the GP2/11 carried over into 2017, to the Dallara F2 2018, and now the Dallara F2 2024, the cars continuously evolve, introducing features like enhanced safety and sophisticated aerodynamics such as ground effect.

Powerhouse Engine

At the heart of the F2 car is a 3.4-litre V6 turbocharged direct injection engine, developed by Mecachrome. This potent powerplant delivers approximately 620 horsepower, propelling the lightweight car to incredible speeds. The move to turbocharging and direct injection in 2018 brought the engine technology closer to modern F1 standards, while also improving efficiency.

Grip, Braking, and Control

Pirelli is the sole tire supplier, providing multiple dry compounds (supersoft, soft, medium, hard) and a dedicated wet-weather tire, all crucial for adapting to varying track conditions. Since 2020, F2 cars have used 18-inch wheels, mirroring F1 and allowing for valuable data sharing. Braking power comes from advanced Brembo monoblock calipers and carbon discs, ensuring phenomenal stopping capability.

Aerodynamic Prowess

The F2 car's aerodynamics are highly sophisticated, featuring wide, curved front wings and low rear wings. A significant addition in 2024 was the introduction of 'ground effect' undertrays, a technology that generates immense downforce by manipulating airflow beneath the car, again reflecting F1 trends. This allows for incredible cornering speeds.

Drag Reduction System (DRS)

For strategic overtaking, F2 cars are equipped with a Drag Reduction System, or DRS, since 2015. Activated by the driver on specific parts of the track when following closely, DRS allows a section of the rear wing to tilt, reducing drag and boosting top speed. It’s automatically deactivated in wet conditions for safety.

Uncompromising Safety

Safety is paramount in Formula 2. The cars undergo rigorous FIA impact tests from all angles, featuring robust roll hoops, energy-absorbing impact structures, and anti-intrusion panels. Crucially, since 2018, all F2 cars include the 'Halo' cockpit protection system, a vital shield designed to protect the driver's head in serious incidents, just like in Formula 1.

Blistering Performance

F2 cars are truly exceptional performers, among the fastest circuit racing machines in the world—surpassed only by Formula 1. They boast a top speed of around 335 km/h (208 mph) in low-downforce configuration. However, their true prowess lies in cornering and braking, generating up to 3.9g of lateral acceleration and 3.6g of braking force. To put that in perspective, a high-performance production supercar might achieve around 1.7g.

Speed on the Stopwatch

Comparing lap times offers a clear picture of their speed. At the Albert Park circuit, for instance, the F2 lap record sits at 1:28.989. For context, the Formula 1 record is considerably faster at 1:19.813, while a Formula 3 car records 1:33.025. This shows F2's critical position as the bridge to F1-level pace.

The Cost of a Dream

While F2 is designed to be relatively affordable for teams, the cost of running a car for a full season is still substantial—around $3 million. This significant financial burden often falls directly on the drivers, who must secure personal sponsorships or rely on family wealth. It's a major barrier for many talented individuals aspiring to reach Formula 1.

Towards a Sustainable Future

The championship is actively working to manage costs and embrace sustainability. Measures like freezing car specifications and reducing race venues help control expenses. More impressively, F2 is at the forefront of sustainable fuel development, aiming for 100% synthetic sustainable fuels by 2027, showcasing a commitment to environmental responsibility alongside high-octane racing.

Inaugural Champion: Charles Leclerc

The very first FIA Formula 2 Championship season in 2017 saw a future Formula 1 superstar emerge victorious. Reigning GP3 Series champion Charles Leclerc, driving for Prema Racing, dominated the season, securing the Drivers' Championship title and immediately proving the series' effectiveness as a launchpad for top talent.

Article

FIA Formula 2 Championship

The FIA Formula 2 Championship (F2) is a second tier single-seater championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 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. Although it is not necessary, most current F1 drivers have previously participated in Formula 2 or GP2 before graduating to Formula One. It is the final step on the FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One.

Formula 2 is designed to create an ideal training ground for life in Formula One, and to this effect, it makes racing relatively affordable for the teams. As a spec series, all teams are required to use the same chassis (designed by Italian manufacturer Dallara), engine, and tyre supplier. These are designed to mirror Formula One cars in terms of safety, aesthetics, system functionalities, performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Formula 2 mainly races on European and Middle-Eastern circuits, but has made appearances at other international race tracks such as the Albert Park Circuit in Australia.

History

Origin and first season

In 2015, the FIA announced plans to revive the Formula Two category, following the continued success of GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5. This decision came despite the discontinuation of the FIA Formula Two Championship only three years prior, owing to a lack of entries in its final season. On 8 March 2017, the FIA confirmed that the GP2 Series would be rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship after an agreement with Liberty Media, which had acquired both the series and the Formula One Group earlier that year. FIA President at the time, Jean Todt, stated that "rationalising the pathway to Formula One has been a major goal of the FIA in my time here."

The 2017 Formula 2 Championship comprised eleven rounds, ten of which supported the Formula One World Championship, with an additional stand-alone event at the Circuito de Jerez. The series retained the Dallara GP2/11 chassis, in use since (/wiki/2011GP2Series), and the Mecachrome V8108 GP2 V8, first introduced in (/wiki/2005GP2Series). Rookie and reigning GP3 Series champion Charles Leclerc won the Drivers' Championship, while Russian Time secured the Teams' Championship and they were the last to lift a trophy with the Dallara GP2/11.

2018–2020

The Dallara F2 2018 added a halo crash-protection device around the head of drivers.

The (/wiki/2018Formula2Championship) season introduced a new car, the Dallara F2 2018, featuring the Mecachrome V634 engine and the halo driver crash-protection device, which was also adopted by Formula One that year. Circuit Paul Ricard and the Sochi Autodrom were added to the calendar, while the Circuito de Jerez was removed. Carlin returned to the series after a one-year absence, and Charouz Racing System joined following the discontinuation of World Series Formula V8 3.5. Soon after the season concluded, Russian Time was sold to Virtuosi Racing, which had been operating the team since (/wiki/2015GP2Series).

The (/wiki/2019Formula2Championship) season witnessed the first fatality of a driver competing in the second tier of FIA-sanctioned formula racing in 10 years when French driver Anthoine Hubert was killed during the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps. The race was red-flagged and subsequently cancelled, along with the following day's sprint race. Later that year, the FIA introduced the Anthoine Hubert Award in his memory, recognising the highest-placed rookie in the standings. Zhou Guanyu became the inaugural recipient of the same.

The (/wiki/2020Formula2Championship) season was heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significant postponements, cancellations, and schedule revisions. The season eventually began in July and included an appearance at the Mugello Circuit for the first, and only time.

2021–2023

The 2021 season saw numerous changes to the championship's format in an effort to cut costs, including the removal of numerous circuits that FIA Formula 3 raced on.

The (/wiki/2021Formula2Championship) season underwent major restructuring as part of post-pandemic cost-cutting measures. Each round featured three races instead of two, while the number of circuits was reduced from twelve to eight. The Dallara F2 2018 chassis remained in use, despite plans for its replacement that year. The calendar was separated from that of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, meaning the two series no longer ran on the same Grand Prix weekends. As a result, the Red Bull Ring, Hungaroring, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Circuit Paul Ricard, and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps were no longer included on the calendar, while the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was added to the schedule.

The (/wiki/2022Formula2Championship) championship marked a return to the pre-2021 format of two races per round, alongside a reduction in points awarded for sprint races, pole positions, and fastest laps. The calendar expanded to twenty-eight races across fourteen rounds. Circuits dropped in 2021 returned to the schedule, alongside the addition of two venues—Imola Circuit and Circuit Zandvoort. The round at Sochi Autodrom was cancelled following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In (/wiki/2023Formula2Championship), Formula 2 raced at the Albert Park Circuit for the first time. Although Imola was initially scheduled, the round was cancelled due to severe flooding in the area.

2024–present

The Dallara F2 2024 was introduced to better accommodate female drivers and better resemble the 2022 Formula One regulation cycle.

A new chassis—the Dallara F2 2024—was introduced in (/wiki/2024Formula2Championship). Designed to more closely resemble the current generation of Formula One cars, it incorporated advanced safety technologies and was engineered to better accommodate female drivers. The series also made its debut at the Lusail International Circuit, which replaced the round at Zandvoort on the calendar.

The Imola Circuit was removed from the calendar following (/wiki/2025Formula2Championship) and will be replaced by the Madring from (/wiki/2026Formula2Championship) onwards.

Race weekend

FIA Formula 2 Championship

A Formula 2 race weekend is structured over three days. It typically begins on Friday with a 45-minute practice session followed by a 30-minute qualifying session. The first race, known as the sprint race, is held on Saturday. Its grid is formed by reversing the top ten positions from qualifying, and the race is run over a distance of approximately 120 km (75 mi) or a maximum duration of 45 minutes, whichever is reached first. The weekend concludes on Sunday with the feature race, traditionally the main event, which precedes the Formula 1 Grand Prix. This race covers around 170 km (110 mi) or lasts up to one hour, depending on which limit is reached first. Between (/wiki/2017FIAFormula2Championship) and (/wiki/2020FIAFormula2Championship), the feature race was scheduled on Saturdays, with the sprint race moved to Sundays.

Points system

The top 8 finishers in the sprint race receive the following points:

The top 10 finishers in the Feature Race receive the following points:

The driver who secures pole position in Friday's qualifying session is awarded two additional championship points. In both the sprint and feature races, one point is granted for the fastest lap, provided the driver finishes within the top ten of the final classification. The maximum number of points achievable by a single driver in one round is 39.

In the event that two or more drivers finish the season with an equal number of points, a countback system is applied to determine their standings. Priority is given to the driver with the greater number of race victories. If still tied, the number of second-place finishes is compared, followed by third-place finishes, and so forth, until the tie is resolved. This procedure applies at all stages of the championship.

Drivers

Numbering System

The FIA Formula 2 Championship allocates car numbers based on the results of the previous season's team standings, following a system similar to that used in Formula One between 1996 and 2013. Numbers are assigned sequentially, with the exception of number 13, which has remained unused since the introduction of the GP2 Series in 2005. In tribute to Anthoine Hubert, who suffered fatal injuries in Spa-Francorchamps in 2019, the number 19 was permanently retired ahead of the 2020 season. The following year, the number 18 was also withdrawn in his memory.

Drivers graduated to F1

Since its rebranding in 2017, Formula 2 has established itself as the principal feeder series to Formula One, with many of its drivers progressing directly to the top tier of motorsport. Charles Leclerc and Sergey Sirotkin were the first graduate from the series to F1 following their debuts with Sauber and Williams in (/wiki/2018FormulaOneWorldChampionship), respectively. Leclerc entered Formula One as the reigning Formula 2 champion, while Sirotkin had made a one-round appearance in the inaugural F2 season as a reserve driver and had previously competed in GP2, finishing third in both the (/wiki/2015GP2Series) and (/wiki/2016GP2Series) standings. In (/wiki/2019FormulaOneWorldChampionship), the three leading drivers from the 2018 season graduated to Formula One: champion George Russell, runner-up Lando Norris, and third-place finisher Alex Albon, who debuted with Williams, McLaren, and Scuderia Toro Rosso, respectively. The following year, (/wiki/2019Formula2Championship) runner-up Nicholas Latifi joined Williams as the only full-time newcomer from Formula 2, while Jack Aitken, who finished fifth in the 2019 standings, made a single appearance at the Sakhir Grand Prix as Williams' reserve driver.

The (/wiki/2021FormulaOneWorldChampionship) Formula One grid featured three graduates from the 2020 season: champion Mick Schumacher and fifth-placed Nikita Mazepin joined Haas, while third-placed Yuki Tsunoda debuted with AlphaTauri. Zhou Guanyu, who finished third in the 2021 Formula 2 Championship standings, was the only full-time graduate in (/wiki/2022FormulaOneWorldChampionship), signing with Alfa Romeo. That season also saw the debut of 2019 champion Nyck de Vries, who substituted for Williams at the Italian Grand Prix. De Vries had since raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Formula E, where he won the 2021 title, before joining AlphaTauri full-time the next year. In 2023, two more former F2 drivers made their Formula One debuts: Oscar Piastri, 2021's Formula 2 champion (who also served as Alpine's reserve driver in 2022) and 2022 Formula 2 Championship fourth-place finisher Logan Sargeant, who signed with McLaren and Williams, respectively. 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. He would later gain a full-time seat with the team during (/wiki/2024FormulaOneWorldChampionship). Three other drivers also made in-season debuts in 2024. Oliver Bearman, sixth in the (/wiki/2023Formula2Championship) standings, raced for both Ferrari and Haas as a reserve driver before securing a full-time Haas seat in (/wiki/2025FormulaOneWorldChampionship). Franco Colapinto left his 2024 Formula 2 campaign mid-season to join Williams, while Jack Doohan, third in 2023, debuted for Alpine in the final race of the year ahead of a full-time promotion in (/wiki/2025FormulaOneWorldChampionship). The 2025 season featured three additional graduates: 2024 champion Gabriel Bortoleto joined Sauber, runner-up Isack Hadjar signed with Racing Bulls, and sixth-placed Kimi Antonelli entered Formula One with Mercedes.

For (/wiki/2026FormulaOneWorldChampionship), sixth-placed Arvid Lindblad is joined Racing Bulls.

In 2025, Lando Norris became the first graduate to win a Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

• Bold denotes an active Formula One driver.

Rounds

FIA Formula 2 Championship

The following twelve circuits have contracts to host rounds for the (/wiki/2026Formula2Championship) season:

<table><thead><tr><th>Round</th><th>Countries, rounds</th><th>Circuit</th><th>Years</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Melbourne Formula 2 round</td><td>Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne</td><td>2023–</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Monte Carlo Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuit de Monaco, Monaco</td><td>2017–2019, 2021–</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Barcelona Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló</td><td>2017–2020, 2022–</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Spielberg Formula 2 round</td><td>Red Bull Ring, Spielberg</td><td>2017–2019, 2021–</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Silverstone Formula 2 round</td><td>Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone</td><td>2017–</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Spa-Francorchamps Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot</td><td>2017–2020, 2022–</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Budapest Formula 2 round</td><td>Hungaroring, Mogyoród</td><td>2017–2020, 2022–</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Monza Formula 2 round</td><td>Monza Circuit, Monza</td><td>2017–</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Madrid Formula 2 round</td><td>Madring, Madrid</td><td>2026–</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Baku Formula 2 round</td><td>Baku City Circuit, Baku</td><td>2017–2019, 2021–</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Lusail Formula 2 round</td><td>Lusail International Circuit, Lusail</td><td>2024–</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Yas Island Formula 2 round</td><td>Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi</td><td>2017–2019, 2021–</td></tr></tbody></table>

The following eight circuits have hosted rounds for the previous seasons:

<table><thead><tr><th>Number</th><th>Countries, rounds</th><th>Circuits</th><th>Years</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Sakhir Formula 2 round</td><td>Bahrain International Circuit</td><td>2017–2025</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Jerez Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuito de Jerez</td><td>2017</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Le Castellet Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuit Paul Ricard</td><td>2018–2019⁠, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Sochi Formula 2 round</td><td>Sochi Autodrom</td><td>2018–2021</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Mugello Formula 2 round</td><td>Mugello Circuit</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Jeddah Formula 2 round</td><td>Jeddah Corniche Circuit</td><td>2021–2025</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Imola Formula 2 round</td><td>Imola Circuit</td><td>2022, 2024–2025</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Zandvoort Formula 2 round</td><td>Circuit Zandvoort</td><td>2022–2023</td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards

Drivers' Championship

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Driver</th><th>Team</th><th>Poles</th><th>Wins</th><th>Podiums</th><th>Fastest laps</th><th>Points</th><th>% points achievable</th><th>Margin</th><th>Ref</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2017</td><td>Charles Leclerc</td><td>Prema Racing</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>10</td><td>4</td><td>282</td><td>53.409</td><td>71</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>George Russell</td><td>ART Grand Prix</td><td>5</td><td>7</td><td>11</td><td>5</td><td>287</td><td>49.826</td><td>68</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Nyck de Vries</td><td>ART Grand Prix</td><td>5</td><td>4</td><td>12</td><td>3</td><td>266</td><td>50.000</td><td>52</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Mick Schumacher</td><td>Prema Racing</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>2</td><td>215</td><td>37.885</td><td>14</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Oscar Piastri</td><td>Prema Racing</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>252.5</td><td>51.583</td><td>60.5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Felipe Drugovich</td><td>MP Motorsport</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>11</td><td>4</td><td>265</td><td>48.535</td><td>101</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Théo Pourchaire</td><td>ART Grand Prix</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>10</td><td>4</td><td>203</td><td>40.927</td><td>11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Gabriel Bortoleto</td><td>Invicta Racing</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>214.5</td><td>40.169</td><td>22.5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Leonardo Fornaroli</td><td>Invicta Racing</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>211</td><td>41.617</td><td>36</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Teams' Championship

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Team</th><th>Poles</th><th>Wins</th><th>Podiums</th><th>Fastest laps</th><th>Points</th><th>% points achievable</th><th>Margin</th><th>Ref</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2017</td><td>Russian Time</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>14</td><td>6</td><td>395</td><td>46.037</td><td>15</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Carlin</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>17</td><td>2</td><td>383</td><td>40.919</td><td>33</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>DAMS</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>16</td><td>7</td><td>418</td><td>48.492</td><td>71</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Prema Racing</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>15</td><td>3</td><td>392</td><td>42.539</td><td>39.5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Prema Racing (2)</td><td>5</td><td>8</td><td>19</td><td>9</td><td>444.5</td><td>55.252</td><td>156.5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>MP Motorsport</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>12</td><td>5</td><td>305</td><td>33.516</td><td>8</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>ART Grand Prix</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>19</td><td>8</td><td>353</td><td>42.736</td><td>31</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Invicta Racing</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>13</td><td>3</td><td>288.5</td><td>32.416</td><td>34.5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Invicta Racing (2)</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>14</td><td>0</td><td>316</td><td>37.396</td><td>38</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Anthoine Hubert Award

The Anthoine Hubert Award was established at the 2019 prize-giving ceremony in Monaco in honour of Anthoine Hubert, who was killed in an accident during the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps that year. This accolade is presented annually to the highest-placed driver in their first Formula 2 season and serves as the series' equivalent to a "Rookie of the Year" award.

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Driver</th><th>Team</th><th>Poles</th><th>Wins</th><th>Podiums</th><th>Fastest laps</th><th>Points</th><th>D.C.</th><th>Ref</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>Zhou Guanyu</td><td>UNI-Virtuosi Racing</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>140</td><td>7th</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Yuki Tsunoda</td><td>Carlin</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>200</td><td>3rd</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Oscar Piastri</td><td>Prema Racing</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>252.5</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Ayumu Iwasa</td><td>DAMS</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>141</td><td>5th</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Victor Martins</td><td>ART Grand Prix</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>6</td><td>150</td><td>5th</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Gabriel Bortoleto</td><td>Invicta Racing</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>214.5</td><td>1st</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Leonardo Fornaroli</td><td>Invicta Racing</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>211</td><td>1st</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Car, technology and cost

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Running a Formula 2 car is estimated to cost around US$3 million per season. In most cases, drivers must cover these expenses themselves, either through sponsorships or personal and family resources. These high costs remain one of the principal barriers to progressing into Formula One. To ease the financial burden, the FIA has implemented a number of cost-control measures, including freezing car specifications and reducing the number of venues, most notably with changes introduced for the 2021 season.

As of 2025, all teams in the FIA Formula 2 Championship compete with an identical car built around a carbon-fiber Dallara chassis and powered by a single-turbocharged Mecachrome V634 engine, which is next scheduled for an update in 2029. The car is expected to weigh a minimum of 755 kg (1,664 lb), with the driver, and is equipped with a Hewland-supplied gearbox featuring an eight-position barrel with ratchet body and software refinements that improve gear selection. Clutches are supplied by ZF Sachs and operated through a hand-paddle lever.

Since the inception of the GP2 Series in 2005, the OZ Group has been the sole wheel supplier. In 2020, the category moved from 13 in (330 mm) to 18 in (457 mm) magnesium-alloy wheels inspired by road-car designs. This change, made in anticipation of Formula One's 2022 wheel regulations, also allowed closer data sharing between the two series. Pirelli has exclusively supplied tyres for Formula 2 since 2017. They currently provide four slick options: a purple supersoft, red soft, yellow medium, and white hard. A single wet compound with a blue sidewalls is also supplied during rainy conditions.

The cars are equipped with a standard FIA Premier FT5 safety tank with a maximum capacity of 125 litres. Refuelling during races, however, is prohibited for safety and cost control reasons. In 2023, Aramco became the official fuel partner for the series, providing all entrants with standardised fuel.

Kimi Antonelli driving the Dallara F2 2024 at Silverstone Circuit for Prema Racing.

Driver control systems remain deliberately simple. Steering is rack-and-pinion and entirely manual, without power assistance, similar to the IndyCar Series. XAP Technology has supplied steering wheels since 2011, with the current Formula 2451 S3 model introduced in 2018. It includes six front-facing buttons, five rear paddles for DRS, gear shifting, and clutch operation, as well as three rotary switches, closely resembling the layout of its Formula E counterpart. Electronics are also standardised across the grid: all cars carry a Marelli Marvel SRG 480 electronic control unit and a Marelli PDU 12-42 power supply management unit. Telemetry is limited to broadcast purposes, though teams may access data when the car is in the garage.

Since 2015, the series has also employed the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which lowers the angle of the rear wing's upper element by more than 40 degrees to aid overtaking when a driver is within one second of a rival. The system is deactivated automatically in wet conditions for safety.

Despite being slower than Formula One cars, Formula 2 remains amongst the fastest single-seaters in motorsport, capable of reaching top speeds of around 335 km/h in low-downforce configuration. Their distinguishing performance lies in cornering and braking, where downforce allows up to 3.9 g of lateral acceleration and 3.6 g under braking, compared with 2.6 g for Formula 3 and around 1.7 g for production-based Porsche Carrera Cup cars. As an example of the differences between the FIA formula categories, at Albert Park Circuit, the Formula 2 lap record stands at 1:28.989, compared with 1:19.813 for Formula One and 1:33.025 for Formula 3. As Liam Lawson, a driver with experience across F1, F2, and Japan's Super Formula, noted in 2023, the latter category is "faster than Formula 2, a lot closer to Formula 1, and sometimes it even feels like F1 in some corners. Downforce is pretty exceptional."

At the same time, speed has also been progressively reinforced over the series’ history. Each car must meet FIA standards for frontal, side, rear, and steering-column impact tests and is built with roll hoops, impact structures, and push-tested monocoques. Anti-intrusion survival cells have been mandatory since 2011, alongside wheel tether cables to reduce the risk of wheels detaching in crashes. The halo driver crash-protection device was introduced in 2018.

Media coverage

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Formula Two is broadcast live in almost every country and territory worldwide. From 2017 to 2024, commentary for races was covered by Alex Jacques. In 2025, the FIA announced that Chris McCarthey would be replacing him going forward.

Although Formula One Management owns the television rights for this series, alongside those of Formula One, FIA Formula 3 Championship and F1 Academy, they have licensed the same to several different regional companies. The series is also available globally through F1 TV, Formula One Management's own streaming platform. Sky-branded operators hold rights in several territories: Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, Sky Deutschland in Germany, and Sky Sport in New Zealand, with Sky Italia covering Italy. Viaplay holds rights across Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and the Netherlands, while Sweden is served by V Sport and Viaplay Channels. In Africa, SuperSport is the primary broadcaster, while beIN Sports covers the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and much of Asia. In North America, coverage in Canada is provided by RDS and TSN, while United States rights are held by Apple TV+ as part of its Formula One broadcast agreement.

Between 2019 and 2021, Match! Arena broadcast races in Russia. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Formula One Management terminated its Russian broadcast contracts across all series under its control, ending coverage in March 2022.