Formula 2 in 2020: Crazy races, memorable victories and a couple of F1 graduates

As we continue to celebrate 10 seasons of FIA Formula 2, we are looking back on each campaign in the Championship’s rich history.

Today we are recapping some of the standout moments from 2020 where we were treated to some incredible racing, epic victories, and title fight that went down to the wire.

A FUTURE CHAMP ANNOUNCES HIS ARRIVAL

The season started in Spielberg and while Callum Ilott got his title-contending campaign off to a fast start in the Feature Race, a future champion claimed his first win in the second tier on Sunday.

Felipe Drugovich would win from reverse grid pole in what was an incredibly mature display from the rookie.

The MP Motorsport driver managed his tyres, safety car restarts and the challenges from drivers behind with DRS to claim victory.

It was the start of a season that saw the Brazilian finished ninth in the Standings, but it was also the beginning of his rich history in Formula 2.

TSUNODA’S FIRST WIN COMES AT PREMA’S EXPENSE

Yuki Tsunoda claimed his first win in FIA Formula 2 at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone back in 2020.

It’s a Sprint Race the then Red Bull junior and his Carlin team would have no problem watching again, but it’s not one PREMA Racing would be keen to revisit.

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The Japanese driver started in third behind Robert Shwarzmann and Mick Schumacher and remained in that position while the teammates did battle.

But on the run to Turn 6, the top two collided, leaving the former with the front wing damage and causing him to drop down the order.

This allowed Tsuonda through, the Carlin driver taking advantage of the collision to win for the first time in the championship.

MATSUSHITA MASTERCLASS

Barcelona has always produced great racing in F2, and perhaps no occasion highlighted that more than the 2020 Feature Race.

Nobuharu Matsushita started from P18, with he and MP opting for the alternative strategy. Ut was working well as he made his way forward on the Hard tyre.

However a late Safety Car put the Japanese driver in play for the victory, as he came in at the right time for his mandatory stop, putting him on the Softs in the closing stages.

At the restart, Matsushita went wheel-to-wheel with Ilott through the opening part of the lap and won the battle with a move into Turn 7 to take P2.

A couple of laps later, Matsushita overtook compatriot Tsunoda for the lead and did not look back, going on to seal his fifth victory in the championship.

It also kicked off a strong weekend for MP as Drugovich sealed the double for the team on Sunday with victory in the Sprint Race.

What a weekend for both team and driver, with Matsushita’s win still very clear in the F2 memory bank.

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A FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON FOR THE CHAMPION

After seven rounds, Schumacher was in the thick of the title fight – sitting fourth in the Standings – but while his rivals – Ilott, Shwarzman and Tsunoda – had tasted victory, the German driver had not.

That changed in Monza, when he took a mighty win in the Feature Race at the home of his PREMA Racing team.

But it was not the easiest start the weekend for Schumacher as he qualified seventh. But a fantastic start put him up to second behind Ilott.

The British driver had done well in the first stint, but stalled in the pitlane, dropping him to the back of the field, and once Schumacher pitted on the next lap, he was in the effective race lead.

Schumacher was then in a world of his own, going on to win by over three seconds to claim a crucial first victory of the season.

This win somewhat kickstarted Schumacher’s late season charge for the title, as he left Monza second in the championship, trailing Ilott by just six points.

AN EPIC FINALE

Formula 2 has had a few epic title fights, and one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry was the finale in Sakhir in 2020.

Schumacher came into the race with a 14 point lead and it meant that Ilott would have to win the Sprint, while his rival could not score for him to win the title.

For the PREMA driver, all looked to be going well early on. He had a couple of big lockups on the opening lap but showed good pace and was even fighting Jehan Daruvala for second place.

But all of a sudden, Schumacher had a big drop in performance, and dropped down the order to sixth, while Ilott was up to third, and was only three seconds away from the leader Dan Tiktum.

Schumacher was then called into the pitlane, and came out at the back of the field, and finished in P18.

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But Ilott also had a drop in performance, and despite once looking set to fight for the win, he wound up in P11, giving the title to Schumacher ahead of the Briton, with Tsunoda in third.

Schumacher, Tsunoda and Nikita Mazepin would go on to compete in Formula 1 on a full time basis in 2021, while Ilott took up a reserve role, taking part in two Free Practice 1 sessions across the campaign.