“It’s just a more exciting version of F1”: How Formula 2 is Outshining its Older Sibling

She kept pestering me about it.

And I’m ashamed at how long it took me to come around to it. I’ve been watching Formula One since 2013, and am a dedicated fan at that. I attend races annually, interact with an online community on a daily basis, and write about relevant topics in the industry (as I’m doing now). I’ve watched the historic Le Mans 24-hour Endurance Race, the Goodwood Festival of Speed; I even dipped my toe in the world of ESports racing on Twitch over quarantine. But in reality, I hadn’t considered seriously learning about and getting interested in any racing series other than F1. I ought to get called out on Twitter for something like that. A member of the F1 community I have been conversing with over WhatsApp for more a year is a massive fan of Mick Schumacher (left). She’s the one who did all the pestering. Now, if you know anything about racing at all, you’ll likely recognize the last name. Yes, Schumacher as in the Michael Schumacher — one, if not the greatest racer in history. He holds 7 World Championships (the most) and numerous records: most wins, most fastest laps, and most wins in a season, to be brief. Mick is his son, and is currently making waves in Formula 2, the series directly below F1 on the Formula motorsport ladder. So how did I, a self-described avid fan of racing, decide it was okay to be uneducated on something as pivotal as the son of one of F1’s gods burning rubber on the same tracks as his father? In many ways, I’m a little embarrassed.

So, I had to fix it. I jumped in, head first. And well, I was in for a lovely surprise. Formula 2 (F2) houses 22 drivers - all of whom are working to earn a coveted seat in Formula 1. Competing in these lower tier groups is the best way to earn experience, race wins, and garner a specific amount of Super License points (an additional license issued specifically by the FIA, the sport’s governing body) which are required for participation in Formula One. Many of the drivers on the grid are part of a young drivers’ academy of a Formula One team — usually Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, or Renault. The drivers are essentially sponsored students of that team, and often go on to race with that team IF they reach F1. That’s a big ‘if’, but it happens. It has already seen the graduation of Lando Norris, George Russell, Alex Albon, Nicholas Latifi, and Charles Leclerc from its ranks to F1. Mick Schumacher currently is part of the Ferrari Drivers’ Academy, and seeing as his father won the majority of his championships with Ferrari, it is likely he will join the senior team in F1 very soon — rumors are already flying about next year, even though the historic Italian team already has its two seats filled.

F2’s got a Schumacher (not to mention a Piquet and an Alesi…). So, it’s got things F1 doesn’t. But that doesn’t make it better, does it?

The biggest shock to me in learning about F2 was that the cars are identical. Yes, really. Identical. Made by the same manufacturer, Dallara, they are designed and built the same across the board; they have the same engine and the same suspension. These cars do not have all the complex aerodynamics or energy systems that are present on F1 cars, either. This makes them a simpler, more compact and consistent build. With fewer actual parts to make the car itself, there is logically less to go wrong.

It further allows for the actual talent of the drivers themselves to be the focus of each race. And it isn’t difficult to imagine the difference this makes in the racing itself. In F1, largely not a single race goes by without a mechanical problem for at least one team. A car may suffer an engine failure, with a lovely plume of smoke exploding out of the back, the gearbox might fail and need replacing, or it could be the tiniest of components that affects the computer portion of the mechanical beast. And many of these issues cause a DNF (did not finish), earning the driver zero points. Or, if the problem occurs before the start of the race, the FIA can dole out a penalty that will drop the car to a lower starting position. These undesirable outcomes affect the teams asymmetrically, and hypothetically, one team could have an abysmal season due to a poor mechanical buildout of their car, even if they have the best drivers in the world. In F2, that division does not exist in the mechanics arena. With each car produced in the same way and by the same group, mechanical problems are less common, period. The F2 cars’ simple construction and uniform build gives young drivers the opportunity to grow and show their skills without lingering worry about the car giving out underneath them. Because each time the car fails first, they are stripped of a vital moment to prove their skills to the scouts and recruiters looking to evaluate them for an F1 seat. With more reliable and understandable cars, these instances can be made less frequent. The bigger point here is that the racing is closer. It’s better. It’s more exciting. I can’t predict who’s going to win the race before it even starts. And you’re likely thinking, Shouldn’t I never be able to predict the outcome of a sports event before it starts? Yes, you shouldn’t. That’s my point.

I watched my first F2 race with my jaw on the floor. I barely knew the drivers, I didn’t know the team names, and I vaguely understood the rules. But I was absolutely sure that something was different here. The races were tight, unpredictable, and bold. The overtakes were brilliant, the tension was palpable, and for the first time in a while, I had no inclination to scroll through my phone to keep my interest level up. I was glued to the television screen. Don’t get me wrong: I love F1, and adore German racer Sebastian Vettel probably more than I should (to the point where his face occupies a permanent position on the lock-screen of my phone), but I do get bored. I do, I’m sorry. I’m only human. But F2 really freshened everything up for me. If in reading this, you’re thinking that single-make cars can’t make that much of a difference in the points scoring, championship results, and fan excitement/engagement, look at the numbers.

In 2018, the gap between F1 winner Lewis Hamilton and runner-up Sebastian Vettel was 88 points.

In 2019, the gap was 87.

In the 2018 F2 season, the gap was 68.

In 2019, it was 52.

The obvious point here is that the championships are closer in F2. The best feeling in the world is going into the last race of the season with the championship still undecided. Where the crown is still up for grabs. I’ve had the incredible firsthand experience of attending F1 races in Austin, Texas, a race that is towards the end of the season. But at quite a few of them, I’ve watched the championship decided in front of my eyes, with the points gap between the leader and the driver in second so vast that the World Driver’s Championship is finished before the season even concludes. Not to sound dramatic, but that sucks. Especially when the winner has been dominant for an extended period of time. And especially when you’ve spent a little too much money to be there and watch it live. In F2’s 2019 season, it came down to the final race for the championship to be decided. In F1, the championship had been finished in Austin, a month before the last race. Make of that what you will. So, what actual, tangible practices contribute to F2’s consistent excitement? There are elements outside of the mechanical realm that enrich the sport in a much more scintillating, engaging way.

First, it’s a breeding ground for young talent. Many F1 viewers don’t watch other series, and only notice young drivers once they’ve graduated up to the big leagues. But those newbies have to come from somewhere. It’s provided the perfect platform for fresh faces to show their stuff, and by holding F2 races at the same tracks, on the same weekends as F1 races, they are brought even closer to their dream and placed in front of the eyes of those in the industry who decide their fate. It’s not just a jumping off point for F1 though — the 2019 Champion Nyck de Vries did not get a seat in Formula 1. Instead, he found a seat in Formula E (I know, so many ‘Formulas’), the up-and-coming all-electric racing series that is touted as the sustainable racing future.

Second: F2's race weekend structure. F1 has a basic construction for its weekends. Thursday is a press day for interviews and conferences. Friday is for two sessions of free practice when the teams to run the cars to catch potential problems. Saturday consists of a quick practice in the morning before qualifying in the afternoon. And Sunday is only for the race. In contrast, F2’s race weeks are as follows: there is one singular practice session, one qualifying, but two races. On Saturday there is a feature race — a sixty-minute time limit (compared to F1’s 120), with the grid determined by their qualifying results. Sunday offers a sprint race. It is 45 minutes, but here’s the kicker. The top 8 finishers from the feature race are reversed for the start of the sprint. That means the winner of the first race now starts 8th, and the driver who finished 8th now starts on pole (first). This helps facilitate a new result. Plus, there’s two races rather than one, and less time is spent on practice sessions. I can understand the merits of F1’s tried and true method, but I can’t help appreciate the innovation of F2's. F2 ticks the boxes for a weary F1 fan like myself. I know I am not the most seasoned watcher of motorsport and still have much to learn, but feeling bored about predictable results is something all sports fans can relate to, and recognize is not contingent on how long you’ve been watching said sport.

In light of F1’s position as the most innovative platform for racing and automotive mechanics in the world, it is important they continue to earn that title. And being mechanically advanced doesn’t mean that quality competition needs to be thrown by the wayside. Both should work in tandem to deliver on the message that it is the pinnacle of motorsport. In my opinion, it is falling short. It can learn from others without compromising that position. It can become the perfect amalgamation of the best parts of other series, and combine those qualities with its incredible technical innovations to afford itself its prestigious title.