2024 F1 SUPPORT RACES THREAD - F2, F3, ACADEMY *SPOILERS*

[Petrus1983]

Here we go again for another great (hopefully) season of support races, and thankfully invariably less argumentative than the main F1 thread!

Here's this weekends schedule-

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula...

[Petrus1983]

Sandpit Steve said:

Thanks for this @Petrus1983, you beat me to it.

The thread for those of us who like to make a full weekend of the F1 events, and also keeps support race spoilers off the main race threads for those who’ll catch up in their own time.

Lots of interest in Euro F3 champion Antonelli in 2024, he’s a 17-year-old Mercedes junior being hailed as the next Verstappen or Hamilton, bypassing FIA F3 and heading straight for F2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Kimi_Antone...

A new car for F2 this season too, so everyone’s going to be a rookie at the first race and there may be some reliability issues in the first half of the season. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula...

At the other end of the schedule, good to see the Academy properly integrated this season, both into the schedule and with the F1 teams taking on a greater role in mentoring the young ladies involved.

I'm looking forwards to seeing what Antonelli can do - hopefully those around him can shield him from the pressures that come with all the talk of being "the next" and he can just focus on his driving.

The new F2 car looks great too.

[Petrus1983]

F3 race about to start.

[Petrus1983]

A great way to start the season - very close, clean racing and the British 16 year old Arvid
Lindblad went on to win the race -a mega achievement considering it's his first F3 race.

[Petrus1983]

ColdSyphon said:

Cracking F2 sprint race. How was the F3? Not watched that yet.

Awesome racing - 8th to 1st and 11th to 3rd.

The F3 was good too. Some really mature driving and a lot of them are in there teens!!

[Petrus1983]

ColdSyphon said:

Do you know if there’s a way to catch up on F3 etc? I accidentally deleted my recording of the F3 sprint race this morning off my Virgin box which has really pissed me off.

Can’t seem to find anywhere else to watch them.

It's not the full race but a decent recap of the highlights here -

https://youtu.be/cIQrSKKz5Bw?si=JLk_s60yTc0AWVZ0

[Petrus1983]

5 mins until F3 - hopefully it will be as good as yesterday.

[Petrus1983]

Sandpit Steve said:

Browning’s car sounds horrible, but it somehow still has race pace. It can’t be firing on 5, so perhaps it’s the team’s suggestion of a lose exhaust, or something that shouldn’t be in the airflow flapping around?

Even then you'd expect a performance reduction.

I'm wondering if Arvid Lindblad is managing his tyres as he's certainly not fighting like yesterday.

[Petrus1983]

Great weekend for the British drivers in F3 this weekend!

[Petrus1983]

That's a great shame - neither driver who's out did anything wrong - Fittipaldi had no where to go.

[Petrus1983]

The rookies in F3 have had a cleaner race!

[Petrus1983]

Beautiful driving from Antonelli considering it's his 2nd race.

[Petrus1983]

Absolutely - a well deserved point for him and a 'clean' weekend!

And a double for Maloney - brilliant!

So it's not even noon here in the UK and I feel like I've already seen 4 great races - F1 later will be the cherry on top

[Petrus1983]

Big Nanas said:

Enjoyable race, that was.
The 'whistling' noise is very curious - commentary team said it's the aerodynamics that are making it.

It makes sense to me as you can hear it on the onboard footage - I wonder though if they'll look to amend the floor a little to stop it - however, I'd prefer close racing.

[Petrus1983]

I certainly don't have the talents of PIaP for a full foreword of the weekend - but the schedule is here -

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula...

And it looks like F3 has been replaced by the F1 Academy for the weekend -

https://www.f1academy.com/

[Petrus1983]

I think they're doing really well - they're certainly not hanging around!

[Petrus1983]

Phenomenal opportunity for Bearman - hope he can hold his head together. I wonder how much sim time he's had?

[Petrus1983]

I wasn't expecting to enjoy that - but I did.

[Petrus1983]

rallycross said:

If Oli Bearman is sitting out his pole do they get to use a reserve driver instead ? Or
Does F2 not allow stand in drivers

I don't believe F2 travels with backup drivers. Happy to be proved wrong though.

[Petrus1983]

Sandpit Steve said:

Petrus1983 said:

rallycross said:

If Oli Bearman is sitting out his pole do they get to use a reserve driver instead ? Or
Does F2 not allow stand in drivers

I don't believe F2 travels with backup drivers. Happy to be proved wrong though.

Same rule as F1, you can’t substitute a driver after qualifying, they have to have taken part in a practice session before the race.

That's interesting - and obviously makes sense - would they have had a standby if things had happened sooner?