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It’s about to get loud at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) as the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the FIA Formula 3 Championship pre-season testing have begun.
Formula 1’s two chief feeder series, that feature the motor racing’s stars of tomorrow, hit the tarmac yesterday and will continue the joint-sessions until Thursday.
This week’s action is crucial for the F2 and F3 teams and ace pilots as it will be the only on-track running they have ahead of their upcoming campaigns.
The tests will be warming up the 5.412km track in preparation for the start of their respective 2023 seasons, taking place as part of the stellar support programme at this year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from March 3 to 5.
F2 is the last rung on the ladder to F1, with many drivers who have graduated from F2 now starring in the top flight. Among them are Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, George Russell of Mercedes, Lando Norris of McLaren, Alexander Albon of Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri and Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, along with the incoming Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Nyck De Vries of AlphaTauri.
All 11 F2 teams, each fielding two cars, will be at the tests, including defending champions MP Motorsport, Carlin, ART Grand Prix, Prema Racing, Hitech Grand Prix, Dams, Virtuosi Racing, PHM Racing by Charouz, Trident, Van Amersfoort Racing and Campos Racing.
Meanwhile, F3 is also a one-make category that is the official third rung of the ‘Road to F1’.
The series’ 10 teams make for a 30-car grid, and they will all be at BIC this week. The field includes reigning teams’ champions Prema Racing, who will be going up against Trident, ART Grand Prix, MP Motorsport, Hitech Grand Prix, Van Amersfoort Racing, Carlin, Campos Racing, Jenzer Motorsport and PHM Racing by Charouz.
On each test day, F2 and F3 will be alternating track time. F3 will be the first to go testing in the morning from 9am to 11.30am, and then again in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm.
F2’s schedule on track will be from 11.45am to 2.15pm and then again from 5.15pm to 7.45pm, on all the days.
F2 and F3 will each hold two races during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, along with practices and qualifying. Both series’ Sprint Races will take place on March 4 with the Feature Races to follow on March 5, while practice and qualifying are scheduled for March 3.
The 2023 F2 season is set to feature 14 rounds, flagging off in Bahrain and concluding in November in Abu Dhabi, while the 2023 F3 championship consists of 10 rounds, beginning at BIC and ending in September in Monza.
A number of the F2 and F3 talents are currently junior drivers with F1 teams, and they will be able to showcase their skills in front of a global audience, which includes the F1 community they will be hoping to impress.
At the Bahrain Grand Prix, F2 and F3 are to be joined on the support programme by the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East.
