Formula 2 season preview released ahead of opener
The FIA has released a preview for the 2026 Formula 2 season, which will open in Melbourne. Teams and drivers are currently participating in pre-season testing in Barcelona to prepare for the championship, which serves as a key feeder series for Formula 1.
- The 2026 season will span 14 rounds, starting in Melbourne on March 6-8 and concluding in Abu Dhabi on December 4-6. A new circuit in Madrid will host a round for the first time, subject to FIA homologation. - All teams utilize the same Dallara F2 2024 chassis, powered by a 3.4-litre turbocharged V6 engine from Mecachrome, which produces 620 horsepower. This spec-series format is designed to emphasize driver talent over machinery. - The weekend format includes a 45-minute practice and 30-minute qualifying session on Friday. Saturday features a shorter Sprint Race, with the grid set by reversing the top 10 from qualifying. Sunday's longer Feature Race grid is determined by the qualifying results. - Reigning champions Invicta Racing will field an all-new lineup, signing 2025 FIA Formula 3 Champion Rafael Câmara and Joshua Dürksen. The 2025 F2 champion, Leonardo Fornaroli, has moved to a reserve driver role with the McLaren F1 Team. - Several new drivers are joining the grid, including IndyCar race winner Colton Herta, who joins Hitech in pursuit of a Formula 1 Super Licence. He will be joined by other notable rookies like 2025 F3 runner-up Nikola Tsolov (Campos Racing) and Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. (AIX Racing). - The series will increase its use of sustainable fuels, targeting 70% sustainable components in the fuel supplied by Aramco for 2026. This is part of a broader goal to adopt fully synthetic fuels in 2027. - Recent graduates to Formula 1 include Arvid Lindblad, who will join Racing Bulls in 2026 after a single season in Formula 2. This highlights the series' role as the primary feeder championship for F1. - The UK tech startup scene saw significant investment in 2025, with total funding reaching $15.3 billion, ranking it second globally. Major funding rounds included over $1 billion for AI infrastructure firm Nscale and $2 billion for fintech company Revolut.
