PREVIEW: 2025 begins on the streets of Melbourne

13 March 2025

After 94 days without racing, the winter break is over with the entire paddock making its way to Melbourne for the first round of what is set to be an exciting 2025 Formula 2 campaign.

Albert Park is also set to host the season-opener for the first time ever, with all 10 teams looking to get off to a good start Down Under.

But, before we hit the track in Australia, here is everything you need to know ahead of Round 1…

WHAT TO EXPECT

Melbourne has quickly become a favourite amongst many in the paddock and Albert Park is set to host Formula 2 for the third consecutive year, but for the first time, it will serve as the venue for the season-opener.

It all starts with Free Practice at 10:00 local time on Friday morning, giving the drivers their first run out of the year before Qualifying later that day at 17:30.

The drivers will return on Saturday for their first piece of racing action in 2025, with the Sprint Race set to get underway at 14:15 local time.

They will get one more bite of the cherry in Melbourne in Sunday’s Feature Race, which starts at 11:30 local time. So, who will claim the first two wins of the season?

STAT PACK

Jak Crawford is the highest returning driver on the grid having finished fifth in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship.
Roman Stanek claimed victory in last year’s Melbourne Sprint Race, making him the only driver on the grid to have won at Albert Park.
Stanek, Crawford and Kush Maini are the only other drivers on the grid that have finished on the podium in Melbourne.
The 2025 grid features 10 rookies stepping up to Formula 2 in 2025 and they will race against 12 other returning drivers.
There is a 100%-win rate for the driver starting from Pole Position in the Melbourne Sprint Race in Formula 2.
There is also a 100% record for at least one Safety Car appearance in F2 races in Melbourne.
The 2025 season will bring another major step in the successful partnership with Aramco, as this year will mark the introduction of 100% Advanced Sustainable Fuel used in the Championship this year.
This will be the second season with this generation of Formula 2 car, which was designed to be more in line with the current Formula 1 car, and with improved safety features and cost control, all while giving the perfect platform for the drivers to show their skills.

FROM THE GRID – Roman Stanek, Invicta Racing

“Melbourne is a street circuit, it doesn’t look like a street circuit but it is a street circuit. It does have some very nice overtaking chances. For example, into Turn 9 after the DRS zone, or into Turn 11 after another DRS zone. We could also see some overtakes at the penultimate corner, so we have a few good chances to make some overtakes across the lap.

“In Qualifying, the track also feels nice. You feel the pace a lot in the high speed because it’s a quick track, so it’s good. The weather can change quite a lot though. It can also be very windy, it can rain suddenly. It’s a nice track, but to nail a lap there you have to be very focused.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 2 Technical Director

“It’s always good to get back racing after the winter break and it’s very exciting to be starting the year in Melbourne for the first time. The Albert Park track is a good test for all of the teams and drivers, with it being a fairly quick street circuit.

“The layout of the track means that the first and second sectors are relatively fast compared to the tighter final sector which completes the lap. The heaviest braking point on the track comes ahead of Turn 11 after the third of four DRS zones around the lap, with drivers slowing from around 240km/h down to 95km/h.

“After the success in 2024 with the debut of the new Formula 2 car, 2025 will be another first for the Championship as we introduce 100% Advanced Sustainable Fuel with partners Aramco. Development of the new fuel has been extensive, and we are happy to have achieved our performance and reliability targets ahead of its introduction.

“It’s a big milestone and one we are proud to have achieved. F2 continues to push in technical development and biofuels, and this is just the latest step we have taken in terms of sustainability, a core value of the Championship.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

For the opening round of the season in Melbourne, Pirelli has confirmed the decision taken last year to go for a jump between the two compounds available in order to offer a bigger difference in terms of performance and degradation during the race. Therefore, once again this year, drivers will be using the Medium and Supersoft. In the 2024 race, most drivers used the Medium for the Sprint Race, with the Supersoft reappearing as the most popular starting compound choice in the Feature event. It’s straightforward to expect a similar scenario this weekend. Safety Cars are a regular and frequent feature of racing in Albert Park and might well mix up the strategies this Sunday.