Formula 2 returns with pre-season testing from Sakhir ahead of 2024 season-opener

The winter break finally comes to an end with FIA Formula 2 pre-season testing taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir over the coming days.

It will be the first time the new 2024 car has been out on track in full supply, with all 22 drivers involved in the three-day test ahead of Round 1 and the beginning of the new season, set to run around the same venue from February 29 to March 2.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The three-day test kicks off on February 11, with running split into separate sessions across each day. Day 1 will begin in the afternoon from 17:00 and run into the night, finishing at 20:00 local time (GMT +3). Days 2 and 3 will begin at 11:45 and run to 14:15 before the afternoon sessions begin and run from 17:15 to 19:45 local time.

Pirelli will bring the hard and soft compound tyres, with five sets of the white-walled tyres and three of the red-walled tyres to play with throughout the event.

THE CHALLENGERS

• The new grid is formed, and 22 drivers are gearing up to battle it out across 14 different venues this season in Formula 2. Twelve returnees are joined by 10 rookies for the upcoming campaign, with 17 different nationalities represented across the grid.

• Victor Martins will be looking to build on his rookie campaign after finishing 2023 as the highest-placed rookie and winner of the Anthoine Hubert Award. The Frenchman sticks with Champions ART Grand Prix for this year and he’s joined by Williams Driver Academy talent, Zak O’Sullivan, who finished as runner-up in FIA Formula 3 last year.

• Rivals PREMA Racing will be looking to secure their first F2 titles since 2021, with Oliver Bearman joined by Mercedes Junior Team star Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who makes the step-up from Formula Regional European Championship.

• 2023 FIA Formula 3 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto graduates to F2 this season, fresh from being named as a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. The Brazilian lines up for Invicta Racing.

• Formula 2 enters a new era this year as a brand-new car is introduced for the upcoming campaign. After an extensive development and shakedown programme, pre-season testing will be the first time all 22 cars will be on track together.

• PHM AIX Racing are the only team on the grid to enter two rookies comprising their driver lineup. Taylor Barnard and Joshua Duerksen make the step-up to F2 from FIA F3 and FRECA respectively.

• All cars will run on 55% sustainable fuels. The biosourced fuel has been developed in partnership with Aramco, who enter into their second year of collaboration with the Championship in 2024.

WHERE TO FOLLOW

You can follow every day of pre-season testing on the official FIA Formula 2 website with live timing throughout the entirety of the test. Each day will be covered with reactions from drivers and teams as they get to grips with the new 2024 F2 car.

FIA FORMULA 2 PRE-SEASON TESTING ENTRY LIST