Official 2021 Grand Prix Support races thread (F2, F3 & W)
Discussion
Just one place to discuss all the support races for the year, starting with F2 supporting the Bahrain GP this weekend.
New race format; 2 sprint races on Saturday,1 feature race on Sunday.
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Results?raceid=1027
Teams and Drivers at: https://www.fiaformula2.com/Teams-and-Drivers
New race format; 2 sprint races on Saturday,1 feature race on Sunday.
https://www.fiaformula2.com/Results?raceid=1027
Teams and Drivers at: https://www.fiaformula2.com/Teams-and-Drivers
TwentyFive said:
The new F2 format is particularly interesting. 8 race weekends instead of 12 but 3 races per weekend.
I think it opens up the qualifying to some funny business. The top 10 in qualifying are reversed for Race 1 with four points to the pole man. Race 2 grid is based on reversed top ten finishing in Race 1, similar to the old format but with 10 reversed instead of 8. Race 3 is based off the actual Friday qualifying times. So whoever started Race 1 in 10th (true pole) will have pole for Race 3.
I do wonder if there will be teams trying to be a touch slower in order to qualify 4th/5th/6th. Surely that gives a better chance of 3 solid top 5 finishes over the weekend and major points hauls than they would get by qualifying on pole and starting 10th right in the pack and risking contact which would scupper their race 2 starting position?
It is also worth considering that with two races on a Saturday, having an accident would be much more costly to title hopes and I fully expect to see some drivers missing race 2 due to not having enough time to repair the car after Race 1.
Looks like Schwartzman and Zhou are heavy title favourites. Will also be interested to see how Piastri goes having stepped up from F3.
It’s a bit of a sorry state when the only British F2 driver is Ticktum - I’ve defended him in the past, but his last 2 seasons haven’t really shown him in the best light, personally or professionally - this is the weakest season of GP2 / F2 for British talent I can remember.I think it opens up the qualifying to some funny business. The top 10 in qualifying are reversed for Race 1 with four points to the pole man. Race 2 grid is based on reversed top ten finishing in Race 1, similar to the old format but with 10 reversed instead of 8. Race 3 is based off the actual Friday qualifying times. So whoever started Race 1 in 10th (true pole) will have pole for Race 3.
I do wonder if there will be teams trying to be a touch slower in order to qualify 4th/5th/6th. Surely that gives a better chance of 3 solid top 5 finishes over the weekend and major points hauls than they would get by qualifying on pole and starting 10th right in the pack and risking contact which would scupper their race 2 starting position?
It is also worth considering that with two races on a Saturday, having an accident would be much more costly to title hopes and I fully expect to see some drivers missing race 2 due to not having enough time to repair the car after Race 1.
Looks like Schwartzman and Zhou are heavy title favourites. Will also be interested to see how Piastri goes having stepped up from F3.
I’m less fussed about the format changes - it’s no more or less likely for teams to “muck about” than they do in BTCC, and no-one complains about the way that messes with the race order.
STARTING GRIDS
With three races and only one Qualifying session taking place per event, the results of the Friday’s final classification of the Qualifying session will determine the starting grid for the Sunday Feature Race.
The starting grid of Saturday’s Sprint Race 1 will be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of Friday’s Qualifying session results.
Lastly, the starting grid of Saturday’s Sprint Race 2 will be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of Sprint Race 1.
POINTS ATTRIBUTION
The driver who takes pole position following the final classification of Friday’s Qualifying session will be awarded with four points, as is already the case.
Sprint Race 1 and Sprint Race 2’s top eight finishers will be awarded points (15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) while the Top ten finishers of the Feature Race will score (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1).
Two points will be awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap in each race. Any driver who is not classified in the top ten positions at the end of the race will not be eligible for points awarded for fastest lap.
The maximum of points that a driver can score over a race weekend has been increased from 48 to 65.
With three races and only one Qualifying session taking place per event, the results of the Friday’s final classification of the Qualifying session will determine the starting grid for the Sunday Feature Race.
The starting grid of Saturday’s Sprint Race 1 will be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of Friday’s Qualifying session results.
Lastly, the starting grid of Saturday’s Sprint Race 2 will be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of Sprint Race 1.
POINTS ATTRIBUTION
The driver who takes pole position following the final classification of Friday’s Qualifying session will be awarded with four points, as is already the case.
Sprint Race 1 and Sprint Race 2’s top eight finishers will be awarded points (15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) while the Top ten finishers of the Feature Race will score (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1).
Two points will be awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap in each race. Any driver who is not classified in the top ten positions at the end of the race will not be eligible for points awarded for fastest lap.
The maximum of points that a driver can score over a race weekend has been increased from 48 to 65.
JonChalk said:
It’s a bit of a sorry state when the only British F2 driver is Ticktum - I’ve defended him in the past, but his last 2 seasons haven’t really shown him in the best light, personally or professionally - this is the weakest season of GP2 / F2 for British talent I can remember.
But he stays as Williams' Development Driver...... https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/3pAArzedtufMLRS...SpudLink said:
JonChalk said:
Two Red Bull liveried cars in different teams?
Hadn't spotted that yesterday. That's got to be a poor decision when they race against each other - very little to prevent them taking each other out.
Isn’t that still the sort of publicity Red Bull like? At this level they are looking for the drivers to prove themselves, less interested in what the team does. Hadn't spotted that yesterday. That's got to be a poor decision when they race against each other - very little to prevent them taking each other out.
mattikake said:
Adrian W said:
JonChalk said:
Don't really see that as Ticktum's fault - he had half a car length and speed on Piastri, and Piastri wasn't even that close to the kerb, just tried to scare Ticktum off the apex.
Ticktum's driven good race today.
Ticktum can’t go near another car without hitting itTicktum's driven good race today.
t with a temper but he's not actually a wreckless driver when his emotions aren't rattled. Wasn't ticktum's fault that one at all.df76 said:
JonChalk said:
No support races this week - at least no F2, F3 or W & nothing else being televised that I can see.
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