What Is 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship

Overview

The 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship served as the primary feeder series to Formula 1, featuring young talents aiming for promotion to the pinnacle of motorsport. It replaced the GP2 Series in 2017 and continued with identical Dallara chassis and Mecachrome V6 turbo engines.

This season marked a pivotal year for future F1 stars, with consistent performances from top drivers shaping their careers. The championship supported 12 Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, offering global exposure and high-level competition.

• Twelve rounds were held across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, beginning in April 7 at Bahrain and ending in November 25 in Abu Dhabi.
• George Russell, driving for ART Grand Prix, clinched the Drivers' Championship with 282 points and seven race wins.
• Lando Norris finished second in the standings with 219 points, winning five races and consistently challenging Russell.
• ART Grand Prix secured the Teams' Championship with 387 points, outpacing competitors like DAMS and Carlin.
• Each race weekend featured two formats: a Feature Race with a reverse-grid top 8 and a Sprint Race with a shorter distance.

How It Works

The FIA Formula 2 Championship operates as a support series to Formula 1, providing a standardized platform for driver development through equal machinery and intense competition.

• Championship Format: Each of the 12 race weekends included one Feature Race and one Sprint Race, totaling 24 races in the season.
• Qualifying: A single 30-minute session determined the grid for the Feature Race, with the top 8 reversed for the Sprint Race.
• Feature Race: Lasted 60 minutes plus one lap, awarded 25 points for first place, and included mandatory pit stops.
• Sprint Race: Lasted 30 minutes plus one lap, awarded 15 points for first, and started with a reverse grid of the top 8 from the Feature Race.
• Points System: Points were awarded down to 10th place, with 25 for first, 18 for second, and 1 point for 10th.
• Driver Eligibility: Drivers were limited to those under 25 years old and with less than two full F1 seasons, ensuring a developmental focus.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the top teams and drivers compared in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship:

The table highlights the dominance of George Russell and ART Grand Prix, who outperformed rivals through consistency and racecraft. Norris and Carlin remained close challengers, while DAMS secured second in the Teams' Championship. The tight points distribution reflected the competitive nature of the series, where small margins decided outcomes.

Why It Matters

The 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship was a critical stepping stone for future Formula 1 drivers, showcasing elite talent in a cost-controlled, high-performance environment. Its structure ensured fairness and emphasized driver skill over team resources.

• George Russell moved to Williams F1 in 2019, validating the series as a reliable talent pipeline.
• Lando Norris joined McLaren in 2019, demonstrating the direct link between F2 success and F1 opportunities.
• The series used Dallara F2 2018 chassis, designed for safety and performance parity among teams.
• Cost control measures, including standardized engines and gearboxes, kept competition close and budgets manageable.
• Live broadcasts and F1 support slots increased visibility, helping drivers attract sponsorships and F1 team attention.
• The 2018 season helped refine the F2 format, influencing future regulations and race structures.

By combining rigorous competition with global exposure, the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship played a vital role in shaping the next generation of Formula 1 drivers and advancing motorsport’s developmental ecosystem.