FIA Formula 2 Championship

FIA Formula 2 Championship
FIA Formula 2 Championship · Public domain · source
Name	FIA Formula 2 Championship
Category	Single-seater
Country	International
Inaugurated	2017
Champion driver	Felipe Drugovich
Champion team	MP Motorsport
Current season	2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship

FIA Formula 2 Championship is a single-seater motor racing series serving as a direct feeder category to Formula One, positioned below Formula 1 World Championship and above regional series such as FIA Formula 3 Championship and Formula Regional European Championship. Established through the merger of the GP2 Series and the revived FIA Formula 2 name in 2017, the championship features professional teams, junior driver programs from Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG Petronas, McLaren F1 Team, and other Formula One teams seeking talent for Formula One race seats. The series runs on grands prix weekends alongside Formula One World Championship events and on standalone rounds, attracting graduates including Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Mick Schumacher.

History

The championship traces lineage to the original Formula Two championships, the GP2 Series founded by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, and the 2017 rebranding overseen by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Formula One Group. Early seasons featured drivers progressing from FIA Formula 3 European Championship, European F3 Open, and Formula Renault 3.5 Series into seats increasingly tied to junior programs like Ferrari Driver Academy, Red Bull Junior Team, Mercedes Junior Team, and Renault Sport Academy. Milestones include championship-winning campaigns that propelled drivers to Formula One World Championship seats, podium successes at historic venues like Silverstone Circuit, Monza Circuit, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and the adoption of live televised coverage by broadcasters such as Sky Sports and Eurosport.

Championship format

Race weekends follow a structure that has evolved from the original GP2 Series format: practice, qualifying, a Feature Race, and a Sprint Race, with points awarded to drivers and teams; formats have been adjusted in alignment with FIA World Motor Sport Council regulations and Formula One scheduling. Reverse-grid elements, mandatory pit stops, and tyre allocations supplied by Pirelli (company) create strategic variance similar to Formula One World Championship tactical play. Prominent rule changes have responded to technical directives from FIA Technical Department and safety standards from organizations like FIA Institute and the implementation of the HALO (cockpit protection device) in single-seater categories.

Teams and drivers

Entrants have included long-established outfits such as ART Grand Prix, Prema Racing, Carlin, DAMS, MP Motorsport, UNI-Virtuosi Racing, and Campos Racing, often fielding future Formula One talent under the management of team principals like Frédéric Vasseur and Sergio Pérez (team manager context). Drivers arrive from feeder series such as Euroformula Open Championship, Formula Renault Eurocup, BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, and national championships; notable alumni include Nikita Mazepin, Sérgio Sette Câmara, Pierre Gasly, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Nyck de Vries. Manufacturer and sponsor relationships link teams to Pirelli (company), FIA homologation processes, and commercial partners including Shell, TotalEnergies, and Petronas.

Circuits and calendar

The calendar combines permanent road courses and classic grands prix circuits such as Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Circuit of the Americas, Yas Marina Circuit, Bahrain International Circuit, and Monte Carlo street circuit alignments on Formula One weekends. Standalone events and historic tracks like Hockenheimring, Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring, Imola (Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari), and Circuit Paul Ricard have featured as part of European and international calendars. The schedule is approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council and coordinated with the Formula One Group to manage logistics, freight, and television rights among broadcasters such as Sky Sports and DAZN.

Cars and technical regulations

Since its 2017 inception the series has used a spec car concept provided by manufacturers including Dallara Automobili for chassis, with engines supplied under a single-tender arrangement such as Mecachrome. Spec components include a standardized chassis, Pirelli (company) tyre fitment, and fuel supplied under regulations aligned with FIA safety and environmental technical rules. Aerodynamic packages, power output, and gearbox specifications are tightly regulated by the FIA Technical Department to emphasize driver skill and parity between teams, and safety architecture incorporates structures developed from research by the FIA Institute and technologies used in the Formula One World Championship.

Records and statistics

Championship records highlight successful drivers and teams: multiple race wins and pole positions have been scored by graduates who advanced to Formula One World Championship competition. Teams such as ART Grand Prix, Prema Racing, and DAMS feature prominently in constructors' tallies, while driver champions have included Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Nyck de Vries, and Mick Schumacher prior to their Formula One careers. Tracks like Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone Circuit host some of the most record-setting performances measured by fastest laps and overtakes, and statistical archives are maintained by motorsport record-keepers and publications like Autosport, Motorsport.com, and The Race.

Category:Formula Two series