Formula 2 returns to action at pre-season testing in Bahrain

The FIA Formula 2 Championship launches back into action in Sakhir, Bahrain with three days of pre-season testing to prepare the 2023 grid for the upcoming season. After Felipe Drugovich and MP Motorsport sensationally claimed both Championship titles in 2022, all 22 drivers and 11 teams will be eager to do the same this year.

Beginning on Tuesday, the official three-day test will give the drivers and teams valuable track time and mileage ahead of the first race of what is set to be an exhilarating 14-round, 18-race season, where they will return to the Sakhir International Circuit at the start of March.

WHAT TO EXPECT

From February 14-16, the three days of pre-season testing will be split into a morning and afternoon session. With a total of five hours of testing available each day, running begins at 11:45 until 14:15, followed by the afternoon session which begins at 17:15 and concludes at 19:45 (GMT+3).

Eight sets of Pirelli’s hard and soft compounds will be available to each car for the duration of the test, with teams having six sets of prime and two sets of option tyres to play with.

THE CHALLENGERS

With all 22 drivers already announced for the 2023 campaign, the new-look field blends nine first-year newcomers alongside 14 established names, with ten new FIA Formula 3 graduates eager to make a good impression from the start.

Teams’ Champions MP Motorsport welcome fresh line-up with Dennis Hauger and Jehan Daruvala remaining teammates for the second consecutive season. Two outfits will be running an all-Red Bull Junior roster, with 2022 F3 Vice-Champion Zane Maloney partnering Enzo Fittipaldi at Rodin Carlin, whilst Hitech Pulse Eight are the only team to field two rookies in 2023 with Jak Crawford and Isack Hadjar.

2022 F3 Champion Victor Martins has stuck with ART Grand Prix for his graduation to F2, joining last year’s F2 Vice-Champion Théo Pourchaire. Frederik Vesti has switched to PREMA Racing for his second season, with Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman for company at the Italian squad.

READ MORE: Incoming rookies, innovation and F1 graduation: Bruno Michel on why 2023 is shaping up to be special

Fellow FDA driver Arthur Leclerc joins Ayumu Iwasa at DAMS, whilst Amaury Cordeel has taken up post alongside Jack Doohan at Virtuosi Racing. Meanwhile, Clément Novalak returns to Trident to team up with Czech racer Roman Staněk and Kush Maini has moved up to F2 with Campos Racing, lining up alongside the experienced Ralph Boschung.

For their sophomore campaign, Van Amersfoort Racing have welcomed compatriot Richard Verschoor and Juan Manuel Correa, as the American makes his first full-time return to the grid since 2019.

Lastly, the Championship welcomes a new team to the field, with German squad PHM Racing by Charouz fielding Roy Nissany and American rookie Brad Benavides for their debut season.

WHERE TO FOLLOW

You can keep track of all the action on the official FIA F2 website, with live timings available here. There’ll also be end-of-day reports and driver reactions after the chequered flag on each of the three days.

FIA FORMULA 2 PRE-SEASON TESTING ENTRY LIST