FIA Formula 2 to return?

[ger80]

Lets see what Domenicali does ...
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/...g-appointment/

[mgcsaylor]

Domenicalli works for Audi...F2 cars last powered by Audi...hmmmm.

It will be interesting to see what he does with GP2, GP3 and FR3.5, series that the FIA has no real control over.

[ger80]

Originally Posted by mgcsaylor

Domenicalli works for Audi...F2 cars last powered by Audi...hmmmm.

It will be interesting to see what he does with GP2, GP3 and FR3.5, series that the FIA has no real control over.

The FIA would need a strong F2 to replace the above if they want to be in charge

[Juntos]

F2 implies the end of GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5.

[Tal Aras]

Moving to a single serries could effect the F1 teams. I imagine they recruit mechanics and other support staff from GP2 and FR2.0. Cutting the number of drivers coming through by half probably won't bother them too much, cutting the supply of new staff to run cars, work with sponsors and handle the press in half could have a much longer term impact.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by mgcsaylor

Domenicalli works for Audi...F2 cars last powered by Audi

I think that the Audi engines were supplied on a commercial basis and was in essence, an extension of the deal to supply engines to Formula Palmer Audi.

[ger80]

My wish for F2 would be a non-spec chassis that shares the chassis regulations with next F3 regs.

[old man]

Joe Saward's figures for GP2 are somewhat high I think, €1.2 million for top team drive I am reliably told, that is $3.0million not $4.0 milion for a team and certainly not the 6.4 quoted from Marko in the piece

[wolfhound]

If a new F2 is to happen it has basically got to replace both Renault 3.5, GP2 and the Japanese super formula. However all series could continue using the new F2 cars maybe with different engines.

From my point of view the new F2 should be cost capped with a maximum that the new chassis and engines can cost. It should also be an open chassis formula with only limited updates. The same monocoque should be used for a number of seasons so that teams do not have to pay for new chassis every year.
I suspect whatever engines are used, should be of around the 500BHP mark.

There is also the question of championship format to be sorted.
If one takes the structure of F4 for national championships.
F3 for regional championships.
F2 for continental or larger.
F1 then is what a world championship.

It will be interesting to see what the FIA will come up with.

[Aguri]

I like the idea of an F2 regulation set to bring GP2, WSR and SF into line. It would spell the end of one of the european championships but the 2 championships left would be very strong, attracting both young drivers and seasoned pros.

[jondownunder]

The FIA has listed a "Future FIA F2 Championship" as one of the categories where drivers can score points towards qualifying for an F1 superlicence from 2016:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117281

Seems they are throwing their weight behind the as-yet-unannounced category, as success there will count for more licence points than GP2 and IndyCar!

They are clearly pushing their own sanctioned championships to the detriment of others - FIA F3 is equivalent to IndyCar for superlicence points, while GP3, F.Renault 3.5 and Super Formula will earn the champion 25% to 50% fewer points. FIA F4 championships are made equivalent to national F3 series in terms of points accrued, while it seems they're trying to bully the various F.Renault 2.0 series into irrelevance, as they are made less significant than the slower/entry level F4 category.

Here are the points the champions of each series would earn:

Future FIA F2 Championship - 60
GP2 - 50
FIA European F3 - 40
FIA WEC (LMP1) - 40
IndyCar - 40
GP3 - 30
F.Renault 3.5 - 30
Super Formula - 20
F4 FIA-certified National Championships - 10
National F3 Championships - 10
F.Renault 2.0 (EuroCup, ALPS or NEC) - 5

[Marcus666]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

If a new F2 is to happen it has basically got to replace... ...Japanese super formula...

Why should you replace the Japanese super formula? Its not like it's a feeder serie. Its more like Indycar on those terms.


Personally, I dont like it much that the FIA is stepping in and demand to go this way. The WSC and ITC both went down the drain because of the FIA. In my opinion it's nice to see racing packages (WSBR) that are made for the fans and isn't taking ridicoulus prices for the weekends.

[mgcsaylor]

Not going to worry about what series is ranked where.

I doubt an F2 series will be in place by 2016 unless the FIA makes the rules identical to an existing series. What teams will be interested? Engine manufacturers? Tire suppliers? All this has to be tendered, and soon.

You're looking at a year minimum if it's a clean-sheet-of-paper series.

And a lot can happen regarding points vs championships between now and then. Makes you wonder how much of this is smoke and mirrors hiding some other agenda.

[ivanalesi]

As someone said - FIA can take their points and shove them one by one ....
WEC, IndyCar and Super Formula drivers get paid to drive, they are professionals. FIA F3 drivers spend half of their day dreaming about becoming professional! There is no mention of the whole Road to Indy program.
Winning Eurocup 5pts!?

[Nikki Katz]

Seriously Euro F3 has more points than WSR???

I'd be quite annoyed if someone tried to resurrect F2 again. How many feeder series does one series with 18 cars and falling need? Where do the drivers go afterwards? As it is, many of them have enough difficulty getting a driving job. And the last attempt at F2 went excellently...

If you really want to resurrect F2 then just rename GP2.

[Go_For_Pole]

And now let's all marvel Euro F3 and national F4 budgets go through the roof ;-)

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

drivers can score points towards qualifying for an F1 superlicence from 2016:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117281


They are clearly pushing their own sanctioned championships to the detriment of others
- FIA F3 is equivalent to IndyCar for superlicence points
- GP3, F.Renault 3.5 and Super Formula will earn the champion 25% to 50% fewer points

Here are the points the champions of each series would earn:

Future FIA F2 Championship - 60
GP2 - 50
FIA European F3 - 40
FIA WEC (LMP1) - 40
IndyCar - 40
GP3 - 30
F.Renault 3.5 - 30
Super Formula - 20
F4 FIA-certified National Championships - 10
National F3 Championships - 10
F.Renault 2.0 (EuroCup, ALPS or NEC) - 5

Please, that's insulting! How on earth can they compare Indycar and Super Formula (700hp) with FIA F3 (200hp)?

Everyone at the FIA drivers' committee should quit right now.

[Mekola]

Also no points for Auto GP and IndyLights. Clearly unfair, considering these series.
Alas, with these remarks neither Räikkönen nor Massa would have qualified for F1 in their racing debuts if that system had run in 2001-02.

[NaBUru38]

Neither would Carlos Sainz Jr.

[olev]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

And now let's all marvel Euro F3 and national F4 budgets go through the roof ;-)

They already are. Some FIA F3 teams ask drivers as much as in WSbR.

[Nikki Katz]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Neither would Carlos Sainz Jr.

That's shocking. I don't know how much more prepared they want a driver to be before joining a likely backmarker team than winning the WSR championship the previous year.

Clever how they seem to be marketing this rule as an end to pay drivers, when really it's just selling their own sanctioned series to kill off rival junior series and discredit other series.

Also, not saying it'll happen because it won't, but what if someone like Barrichello or Kubica decided to return to F1? Are they now barred also?

[kotkot]

Common sense would at least grant former experienced F1 drivers to have their super licence till the end of their career. However, it's really not easy to talk about common sense when FIA is in charge.

Anyway, if Kubica suddenly changed his mind and he would like to and be able to return, I'm sure they would let him. They only keep their rules if they want to.

[bella]

sainz jnr has 38 points - one would presume if the scheme had been in effect during his crappy f3 year there'd have been a bit more of an incentive for all concerned.

in a way it's interesting because this new scheme now gives value to every championship placing in at least the top 8 of the big series - finishing 5th or 6th in 3.5 might be a bit neither here nor there previously, but now it actually makes a decent overall difference. makes you wonder if perhaps the endurance/sportscar ratings system might head this way too.

[bella]

i posted this in the f1 thread discussing these rules and it seems relevant here too.

Originally Posted by bella

i just got bored during lunch hour and did a thing. here's the top 10 of gp2 and 3.5 from 2014 and their respective points hauls, and the top 5 from gp3 and f3 and theirs. there's a couple of surprises in there, but i think it's fair to say those who would have a right to a superlicence are worthy of one. it actually excludes some of the rich kids who might have been able to get the dough together to buy a seat.

to me the resulting list of drivers entitled to a licence according to the 2016 rules is actually pretty fair, especially when you consider the opposition in that series and their level of experience.

top 10 gp2 series

top 10 formula renault 3.5

top 5 european f3

top 5 gp3 series

[olev]

Merhi won the F3 Euroseries in 2011. I wonder if this gives him the points corresponding to the current FIA F3.