Formula 2 returns to action for in-season testing in Barcelona

After a dramatic double-header in Sakhir and Jeddah sparked the season into life last month, Formula 2 returns to action this week for three days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Beginning on Tuesday, the three days will give teams and drivers the chance to put their learnings from the double-header to the test, ahead of the start of the European season in Imola, April 22–24 April.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Running between April 12–14, the three days will be split into a morning and an afternoon session with a total of six hours of testing available per day. The first session of the day will begin at 9am and run until 12pm (local time) on all three days.

On the Tuesday and Wednesday, the afternoon session will start at 2pm and finish at 5pm, while on the Thursday, the afternoon running will start at 1pm and finish at 4pm.

Teams will have the choice of Pirelli’s hard and soft compounds, with each car allocated six sets of prime and two sets of option tyres for the duration of the test.

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LAST TIME OUT

Since re-joining the team after a year with Virtuosi Racing, Felipe Drugovich has picked up from where he left off with MP Motorsport. After a solid opening event in Sakhir, the Brazilian went on to top both Free Practice and Qualifying in Round 2 at Jeddah, taking pole ahead of Trident’s Richard Verschoor and Virtuosi’s Jack Doohan.

In the reverse grid Sprint Race on Saturday, Liam Lawson clinched his third successive podium and a maiden victory of the season, managing three Safety Car restarts to win out of Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips and Van Amersfoort Racing’s Jake Hughes.

Drugovich then put on a dominant performance in the Feature Race to claim his first win since 2020, converting pole to victory. Trident’s Verschoor was unable to unsettle the Brazilian driver and came home P2 ahead of PREMA Racing’s Jehan Daruvala who surged from 14th on the grid to third at the flag.

READ MORE: Championship leader Drugovich shares the same ‘DNA’ as MP Motorsport lauds Dorsman

THE CHALLENGERS

Liam Lawson’s masterful drive had him leading the standings before bad luck struck on the Sunday, with a mishap during his pitstop resulting in a frustrating retirement. This, coupled with Drugovich’s brilliance, allowed the Brazilian to assume control of the Championship lead.

Drugovich heads the Drivers’ standings with 45 points after one round, 11 ahead of Lawson. Verschoor is a further two points back in third, with Vips fourth on 28 and Théo Pourchaire fifth on 25 points.

In the Teams’ Championship, Hitech Grand Prix leads the way with 48 points. Trailing by just three points is MP Motorsport, who are in second with 45. Carlin and Trident are third and fourth, with 43 and 37 points respectively. PREMA Racing round out the top five with 33 points.

Follow in-season testing on the official FIA Formula 2 Championship website via live timing.

2022 FIA Formula 2 Barcelona Testing Entry List