F2 is the step below F1 on the single-seater motorsport ladder, but what are the main differences between the two series – in terms of car and championship?
The likes of Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc have all graduated to F1 after racing in F2 (or GP2 in its previous guise).
F2 is the step below F1, with budding grand prix racers usually having to race in the series before they’ll be let anywhere near a F1 car.
But what are the main differences between F1 and F2 machinery? How are the weekends different?
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Car differences between F1 and F2
F1 cars are 795kg (1,452lbs) (including driver) in weight, and are designed individually by each team in the series.
F2 machinery clocks in slightly less at 755kg.
However one big difference between F1 and F2 is that F2 teams don’t build their own cars.
It is a spec-series which means all the cars are exactly the same – made by Italian chassis constructor Dallara.
They are powered by a Mecachrome V6 turbo charged engine – which is not that different to F1 – in that it’s a V6 turbo charged engine.
However, F1 engines are more powerful.
They churn out 620bhp – whereas in F1, it is nearer 1000bhp – a difference to F2 of about 380bhp.
Moreover, F2 cars do not feature power steering, whereas F1 does.
In the 2022 season opener, Charles Leclerc took F1 pole position with a laptime of 1m:30.558s.
That’s 215.146 km/h or 133.6mph.
In F2, Jack Doohan took pole with a 1m:40.542s – or 193.79 km/h – 120 mph.
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Weekend format also different
The F2 weekend format has also considerable differences to the F1 format.
Drivers and teams must coax the most out of their car – with the best driver doing this.
There are also two races on every F2 race weekend.
The first is a sprint race – about 45 minutes in length on Saturday after F1 qualifying. It features a reverse grid with the top eight taking points.
On Sunday morning, before the grand prix, the feature race takes place – longer in distance.
More points are handed out – similar to the F1 points system down to 10th place.
The junior series also hands out points for feature race pole position – a difference with F1 which typically does not.
Another difference is that F2 does not race on every single F1 weekend.
In 2022, Formula 2 is at 13 of the 23 F1 rounds – including Bahrain, Monaco, Silverstone, Monza and the season-finale in Abu Dhabi in November.
It means there are 26 F2 races in 2022.
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