The FIA Formula 2 campaign returns for Round 11 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. We take a look at what you should be watching out for this weekend.

THE FIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2020 title race has been one of the tightest battles in years. A total of nine drivers could all mathematically still win, while Mick Schumacher heads into the final rounds with just a 22-point advantage over his Ferrari Driver Academy teammate, Callum Ilott.

Eight of those are all proven race winners, while Louis Delétraz has shown enough to suggest he could clinch a maiden win in the final two rounds. Schumacher, Ilott and Robert Shwartzman have all held first at various points during the year, with the German driver’s consistency separating him from the crowd at the moment. He needs to finish the weekend with a lead of 49 points to clinch the title.

We took an in-depth look at all eight contenders during our “Run-in” series earlier this week, with Schumacher, Ilott, Yuki Tsunoda, Christian Lundgaard, Shwartzman, Nikita Mazepin, Delétraz, Guanyu Zhou and Luca Ghiotto all covered. Don’t forget to delve through them before the start of the weekend.

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THE TEAMS’ TITLE RACE

It isn’t only the Drivers’ Championship battle which is tight, the fight for the teams’ title is just as fierce, with PREMA currently leading UNI-Virtuosi by 42.5 points, with a total of 156 left to race for.

Out of the two, PREMA are the form team, beating Virtuosi for points in each of the last five rounds. PREMA’s Schumacher currently leads Virtuosi’s Ilott in the fight for the drivers’ title and clinching that could well mean he helps his team to their own crown.

PREMA can wrap things up this weekend if they finish the Sprint Race with a lead of 79 points.

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BOUNCING BACK

Three of the top nine all scored pointless weekends last time out, as Delétraz, Shwartzman and Lundgaard all failed to take a single point. With just four races to go and a whole lot at stake, that could be vital.

Of those three, it is Shwarztman who is enduring the most difficult patch of form, with just eight points from the last three rounds in total – all of which came back in Monza. The Russian has had a lengthy period to mull over this and should come back fighting.

All three will need a strong weekend in Round 11 if they are to take the title race to the final round.

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THEO POURCHAIRE’S F2 DEBUT

Formula 3 vice-champion Theo Pourchaire will become the first graduate from the third tier this season when he links up with HWA RACELAB in Bahrain. In doing so, he will also claim the honour of being the youngest driver in the Championship’s history.

The 17-year-old is certainly an exciting prospect, stepping up to F3 with ART Grand Prix on the back of winning ADAC F4 in 2019. The Sauber junior very quickly acclimatised to the machinery, taking his first win in the Round 2 Race 2 at the Red Bull Ring, before following it up with another victory in the following race in Budapest.

It was his end to the season which truly caught people’s attention though, as he took five podiums in his final six races, only missing out on first place by three points. The Frenchman is looking to graduate full time in 2021 and this experience could prove to be key.

You only have to site the example of Christian Lundgaard – who debuted in Round 12 with Trident at Abu Dhabi in 2019 – as proof of the impact that this can have. The Danish rookie is fourth and in with a shot of the title.

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CONTINUING THE TREND

Here’s one for you. All four Vice-Champions from the modern era of F2 have won the Feature Race in Bahrain. Artem Markelov beat out Norman Nato in 2017, Lando Norris finished ahead of Sérgio Sette Câmara in 2018, while Nicholas Latifi took victory over Luca Ghiotto in 2019.

All a coincidence of course, but that won’t stop us keeping an eye out for the Feature Race winner this weekend. Especially, if one of the top nine takes the win.