WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Some of the key areas of interest heading to Silverstone

4 July 2024

Round 8 at Silverstone marks the end of the triple-header but the start of the second half of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season, as both title races begin to heat up.

Paul Aron leads the way in the Drivers’ Championship while Campos Racing are on top in the Teams’ Standings. But with 12 different winners through the first 14 races, it truly is anyone’s game this weekend.

So, before we hit the ground running, let us look at some of the key storylines heading to Silverstone.

THE FINAL SEVEN BEGIN

It has been quite the first seven rounds of the season, and with Spielberg bringing an end to the first chapter of the year, Silverstone starts the second.

During the first half, we got 12 different race winners, half of those first timers, with every team standing on the podium, while only Hitech Pulse-Eight went without a victory.

It has been a competitive year as the teams got to grips with the new Formula 2 car, meaning that the pecking order has changed each weekend.

Those who have started well will be looking to continue that momentum while the teams and drivers who struggled in the first half will be looking to bounce back in the second. That all starts at Silverstone this weekend, a track that is a favourite for many.

Hitech Pulse-Eight's Aron currently leads the Drivers' Championship

FIRST TIME WINNERS

As mentioned, we have had six first time winners this year, those being Zane Maloney, Roman Stanek, Franco Colapinto, Taylor Barnard, Zak O’Sullivan and most recently Gabriel Bortoleto.

That means there are now nine drivers left on the grid who are yet to win a Formula 2 race, so what better time for them to head to Silverstone.

The last four race weekends at Silverstone have produced at least one first time F2 winner, with Yuki Tsunoda taking his maiden victory in 2020, Richard Verschoor doing the same in 2021, as did Jack Doohan in 2022 and Victor Martins last year. So, will the British venue produce another first-time winner?

By the looks of this season and how competitive it has been each weekend it would certainly not be a surprise to see that trend continue.

Victor Martins took his first Formula 2 victory at Silverstone

CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLES

A large part of the intrigue heading into the second half of the season stems from both Championship Standings being incredibly close.

In the Drivers’ Championship, Aron leads the way on 117 points, while Isack Hadjar trails him by 11. But there are a host of rivals behind them who could launch themselves into contention with one Feature Race victory.

Gabriel Bortoleto’s victory in the Spielberg Feature Race puts him on 85 points and in third place, with a 32-point deficit to Aron. He, as well as the rest of the grid, know that with how tight it is, a couple of strong weekends, starting at Silverstone, could put them right into the mix.

Silverstone Preview: The triple header ends with a high-speed test

Also, on the Teams’ side of things, Campos Racing sit on top with 143 points, with Hitech Pulse-Eight just one point behind in second and they are followed by MP Motorsport and Invicta Racing who are tied on 137 points.

With six points separating the top four, anyone could steal a march around Silverstone, but the other seven teams have all proven they can win races this season. A good weekend for them at Silverstone could put them back into contention for the top prize.

The second half of the Formula 2 season starts at Silverstone this weekend

WHAT DO THE CLOUDS SAY?

There are so many things that come into play when determining who will be successful at Silverstone, namely the car setup, tyre management, as well as the driver’s confidence to carry speed through the high-speed corners.

But another key factor can be the weather and this weekend’s forecast shows that there is a chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, which could definitely throw the cat amongst the pigeons.

The only wet weather session we have had so far was Free Practice in Monte Carlo, although the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain was hampered by rain.

But if there is to be rain for Qualifying and the Sprint Race, we could definitely see a change in the order as these could be the first competitive sessions in the wet in these new Formula 2 cars.

On top of that, if we do have mixed conditions, making the call about which tyres to start on will be key, as could the call to change from wets to slicks or vice versa in the middle of Qualifying or the race.

Either way, rain, or shine, we are in for an action-packed weekend at Silverstone.