Newly renamed F2 series to feature at 10 Grands Prix

The GP2 Series - widely regarded as the final step on the racing ladder before F1 - has officially become the FIA Formula 2 Championship, following an agreement announced on Thursday between Formula 1 and the FIA.

It means F2 will support F1 racing at 10 of this season’s 20 Grands Prix, with the newly renamed series also set to enjoy a standalone round at the Spanish circuit of Jerez in October.

“I am very pleased to announce the evolution of the GP2 Series to become the FIA Formula 2 Championship,” said Formula 1 Chairman and CEO, Chase Carey.

“Junior categories and especially the upcoming Formula 2 Championship are strategic activities for Formula 1. We are delighted to strengthen them through this agreement with the FIA.”

Since the first GP2 season in 2005, its drivers have graduated to F1 racing every year, from its inaugural champion - and reigning F1 world champion - Nico Rosberg, to McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne this year.

“Completing this process with Formula 1 and bringing F2 to life is a very important step,” commented FIA President, Jean Todt. “The Championship will provide a fantastic opportunity for junior drivers who are looking to reach the ultimate goal of Formula 1.

“In recent years we have developed a hugely successful programme of FIA Formula 4 championships in 12 countries around the world and the FIA F3 European Championship has become very strong and competitive. Today’s announcement further strengthens this programme.”

F2 races will thus form part of the support bill at 2017 Grands Prix in Bahrain, Spain, Monaco, Azerbaijan, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium, Italy and at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“The FIA has fully embraced GP2’s core values which will now be adopted by Formula 2; a powerful, safe and challenging car, enthralling races, and a training ground to enter Formula 1 with a particular focus on cost control,” concluded FIA Formula 2 Championship CEO, Bruno Michel.

“This is a great opportunity for our drivers, our teams and our partners.”

The new Formula 2 car for 2018 will feature the same aggressive styling as the current generation of Formula 1 machines, but will not be powered by a hybrid engine.

The former GP2 series - now under the FIA's regulatory control - is scheduled to implement its first new car since 2011 next season.

F2 series boss Bruno Michel explained that while the new car would be built using some of the same parts as the current model, its aesthetics would be based on the look adopted by F1 for the 2017 season.

"We're trying to keep as many common parts from this car as possible to save money for the teams because costs are very important at the moment," he told Autosport.

"But the car is going to look completely different - it's going to have the same type of look as F1."

Michel confirmed that the new F2 car's engine would be built by Mecachrome, which produces the six cylinder 3.4-litre power plant used in GP3.

It will share a design base with the engine used in the third-tier single-seater series.

But while the F2 version will be turbocharged and produce more power than the normally aspirated GP3 engine, it will not feature the hybrid systems that are used in F1 on cost grounds.

"Now it has been completely designed we are in the process of having prototype parts done with an objective of having the first assembly of the car sometime in June and starting to test it mid-July," said Michel.

"The engine is now doing a lot of dyno endurance and stuff like that and we're on time."

Michel added that F2 will retain degradable tyres, which have been a notable feature in the series in recent years, for its 2018 car.

When asked if using degrading tyres was unfair on up-and-coming drivers as sensitive rubber requires them to perfect the art of tyre management, Michel argued it was a skill all racers should learn.

"We are asking for a certain type of degradation from Pirelli to make sure that we do races that are very entertaining," he said.

"The F2 [sprint] race in Bahrain - it was absolutely amazing and that's exactly what we want to achieve.

"This kind of degradation is between two-and-a-half and three seconds over a lap between the start of the race and the end.

"If possible - like we had in Bahrain - the degradation will go quite slowly and then suddenly a massive drop.

"That makes fantastic racing and that also makes drivers learn how to work with the tyres as well, so ideally that's what we want.

"I don't think it's unfair - it's a learning curve - they have to learn to race with the material that they have."

The new Formula 2 car that will be raced in the Formula 1 support series from 2018 has been revealed and will feature the halo cockpit protection device.

The car, which has been called the F2 2018, was unveiled at the Monza circuit on Thursday.

The new car will be the first the F1 feeder category has introduced since 2011, when it was known as GP2, and has been designed to resemble the new generation of F1 machinery, as revealed by Autosport in May.

As well as incorporating the halo, the car's design features wider and more aggressive bodywork styling - with the chassis again produced by Dallara - which means the car is 159mm longer than its predecessor and 32kg heavier (including a driver).

Its width, 1900mm, is unchanged from the previous car.

The F2 2018 will use a 3.4-litre turbocharged engine supplied by Mecachrome, which will produce 620HP at 8,750 rpm, moving away from the GP2/11's 4-litre naturally aspirated V8.

The car's DRS, virtual safety car and electronic systems have all been upgraded alongside an updated ECU, which has the scope to be developed for future seasons to control costs.

Magneti Marelli will supply that ECU as well delivering the car's power supply management unit.

The F2 2018 will retain a number of mechanical parts from the GP2/11, including the majority of the gearbox, brake system and some suspension components.

The car will continue to use tyres supplied by Pirelli, but its wheel size is based on 2016 F1 dimensions.

"Our focus has always been on providing a powerful, safe and challenging car which will encourage overtaking, and thanks to the new aerodynamics package we believe this car will both enhance racing and provide even more entertainment for our fans," said F2 series boss Bruno Michel.

"Our philosophy has always been to match this with cost control for the teams, and we believe the F2 2018 will continue to limit operational costs and provide an attractive package to our teams."

FIA F1 race director Charlie Whiting said the new car was "an important moment for the FIA as we complete the single-seater pyramid".

"The plan for a more structured junior formula ladder is designed to feature cars that better prepare drivers for the next step," he continued.

"For Formula 2, that means we needed a car that will not only educate, but will also allow the drivers that are most ready for Formula 1 to shine brightest.

"The car has been developed to include improved aesthetics, as well as bringing the safety level up to the highest standards for single-seater cars - and to ultimately bring it closer to a modern Formula 1 car on both of these points."

The F2 2018 was given a shakedown run at Magny-Cours in July and will be tested further before the end of 2017.

The first cars will be delivered to teams in mid-January 2018 and the second next February.

Two test sessions have been scheduled for December that will focus on the car's performance capabilities.

The FIA Formula 2 championship will feature an expanded 12-round calendar in 2018, with each double-header event in support of a Formula 1 Grand Prix race.

Eight rounds of the junior racing series will be held in Europe with four flyaway events completing the calendar, which adds France and Russia to its agenda.

“One of our mission statements is to prepare young drivers to the next step: F1,” said FIA Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel.

“Having all of our race weekends take place with F1 will help our drivers to learn as many F1 tracks as possible, but also to prove their race craft directly in front of the F1 paddock.

“The 2018 calendar includes two new venues: Le Castellet and Sochi. It features one more event compared to this year, and is a good balance between racing on F1 circuits in Europe and overseas.”

The second season of the FIA F2 Championship will kick-off overseas at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 06-08, with the season finale taking place once again at Yas Marina on November 23-25.

The series, which was formerly known as GP2, will introduce an all-new car for next year, with the same halo cockpit protection device as F1 fitted as standard.

2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship Calendar*

April 6-8: Sakhir

April 27-29: Baku

May 11-13: Barcelona

May 24-26: Monaco

June 22-24: Paul Ricard

June 29-July 1: Red Bull Ring

July 6-8: Silverstone

July 27-29: Hungaroring

August 24-26: Spa

August 31-September 2: Monza

September 28-30: Sochi

November 23-25: Yas Marina

*Subject to final approval by the FIA WMSC