2019 FIA Formula 2 silly season

F2 have just said its replacement team for Russian Time and the full team name is UNI- Virtuosi. So no HWA

UNI-Virtuosi named their first driver: Guanyu Chou.

Now we have the dates and its the same as this years therefore no trip to Hockenheim for the F2 teams for the 2nd year running (And we can not blame triple headers this time around either)

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Sergio Sette Câmara - Nicholas Latifi

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Mick Schumacher - Sean Gelael

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Leonardo Pulcini

Giuliano Alesi quite possibly with Trident.

Ghiotto at Virtuosi:

http://www.fiaformul...g-2019-line-up/

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Sergio Sette Câmara - Nicholas Latifi

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Mick Schumacher - Sean Gelael

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Leonardo Pulcini

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Ghiotto, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Gelael

Sergio Sette Camara to be de Vries main contender from the returnees for me.

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Ghiotto, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Luca Badoer, Alex Yoong, Carmen Jorda, Deletraz the dad, a 15 year old kid still in karting, a random local mechanic, my bed-ridden grandma, a blind Golden Retriever, Gelael

I'd be very surprised if Mick could fight for the title in his first season. Ok, he'll be a Prema driver so his chances are not so bad, but he needed a second season in both F4 and F3, and the F2 tyres are not exactly easy to figure out.

Edited by balage06, 07 December 2018 - 11:51.

Problem with De Vries and Ghiotto is that they're Fabio Leimer and Jolyon Palmer for a new generation. Even if they win all eyes will be on the likes of Mick.

Gelael has good choice though. He wants to be in the best team. This way he can avoid finishing last.

Giuliano Alesi quite possibly with Trident.

confirmed: https://www.autospor...s-f2-graduation

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Sergio Sette Câmara - Nicholas Latifi

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Mick Schumacher - Sean Gelael

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Guiliano Alesi

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Ghiotto, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Gelael, Alesi

Ghiotto ahead of Schumacher? Nah.

More experience.

 

More experience.

 

Hasn't he basically gotten worse every year though?

is there a 'limit' on how long you can spend in F2/F3 etc? Have the feeling I've been seeing the same names in this class for years now.

Problem with De Vries and Ghiotto is that they're Fabio Leimer and Jolyon Palmer for a new generation. Even if they win all eyes will be on the likes of Mick.

Edited by noikeee, 07 December 2018 - 15:09.

is there a 'limit' on how long you can spend in F2/F3 etc? Have the feeling I've been seeing the same names in this class for years now.

I'm not sure about lower formulas, but in F2 the only drivers prevented from competing are those who won the championship or completed a full season in F1. 

I'd be very surprised if Mick could fight for the title in his first season. Ok, he'll be a Prema driver so his chances are not so bad, but he needed a second season in both F4 and F3, and the F2 tyres are not exactly easy to figure out.

I'd be surprised if Ghiotto could fight for the title.

I'd be surprised if we even have a champion.

I'd be surprised if we even have a champion.

Looks a poor F2 in 2019 after the excellence this year. Superformula looking as good if not better

Looks a poor F2 in 2019 after the excellence this year. Superformula looking as good if not better

F2 and F3 look completely drab for 2019. SuperFormula is where it's at now.

I agree that F2 and F3 don't promise much excitement at the moment, but who's in SF if you take away the local veterans (to make a fair comparison with junior formulas)? I guess Cassidy is good but he's a bit of a Japan specialist by now. Markelov? Honda juniors who were so convincing that their bosses are sending Matsushita back instead of them? Everybody's favorite junior RB driver Dan Ticktum? The youngsters there are pretty much the same calibre of driver that we'll have in F2 and F3. 

Edited by Anja, 10 December 2018 - 00:53.

Latifi stays @ Dams

I agree that F2 and F3 don't promise much excitement at the moment, but who's in SF if you take away the local veterans (to make a fair comparison with junior formulas)? I guess Cassidy is good but he's a bit of a Japan specialist by now. Markelov? Honda juniors who were so convincing that their bosses are sending Matsushita back instead of them? Everybody's favorite junior RB driver Dan Ticktum? The youngsters there are pretty much the same calibre of driver that we'll have in F2 and F3. 

You speak truth. I guess my hype is born from the fact that I rate Cassidy, Markelov, Auer and especially Naoki Yamamoto way above every other drivers in both F2 and F3.

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Nicholas Latifi - Sergio Sette Câmara

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Sean Gelael - Mick Schumacher

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Guiliano Alesi

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Ghiotto, Latifi, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Gelael, Alesi

You speak truth. I guess my hype is born from the fact that I rate Cassidy, Markelov, Auer and especially Naoki Yamamoto way above every other drivers in both F2 and F3.

To be fair these guys are way more experienced/established though than almost everyone in F2 and F3 so its not really the same.

Super Formula could be entertaining though.

I think it's unfair to criticize F2 after they lost their total 2018 top 3 drivers to F1. Of course the talent level will drop then. I also expect that the silly seasons until 2020 won't be that interesting because a gulf of youth found their place in F1 right now, which makes it extremely difficult for the next group of talents to find a seat.

There are rumors in Italia that Mick Schumacher is signing with Ferrari

https://it.motorspor...4311836/?nrt=54

You speak truth. I guess my hype is born from the fact that I rate Cassidy, Markelov, Auer and especially Naoki Yamamoto way above every other drivers in both F2 and F3.

You rate them above Sean Gelael?  Good grief.

Actually the real talent in Superformula is amongst the Japanese drivers, not the second division cast-offs from international racing. If the rest of the racing world ever bothered to look at Japanese domestic talent, they might be quite surprised.  But becasue they have funny names and are racing in far-off Nippon and don't speak excellent English, they are discounted.

You rate them above Sean Gelael?  Good grief.

 

Actually the real talent in Superformula is amongst the Japanese drivers, not the second division cast-offs from international racing. If the rest of the racing world ever bothered to look at Japanese domestic talent, they might be quite surprised.  But becasue they have funny names and are racing in far-off Nippon and don't speak excellent English, they are discounted.

Might have more to do with how they fare when they venture abroad.

I think it's unfair to criticize F2 after they lost their total 2018 top 3 drivers to F1. Of course the talent level will drop then. I also expect that the silly seasons until 2020 won't be that interesting because a gulf of youth found their place in F1 right now, which makes it extremely difficult for the next group of talents to find a seat.

I see most of the problem in the fact that most of the stand-out drivers from F3 are not making the jump to F2 yet, Mick alone is not enough. Instead of them we'll have some graduates from GP3 which frankly had a very dull grid this year. 

I feel that the F1 dream has passed De Vries by. He had a golden opportunity in 2018 against very decent opposition and in a head to head with McLaren golden boy Norris. Had he seen Norris off, he could have had that McLaren seat.

Somewhat surprisingly however, in 2018 F1 has had a major clearing out in so there will not be many drives available again in 2020 unless one of the rookies or Kubica fail spectacularly.

Then there is Ticktum waiting in the Red Bull wings and Honda wanting to push a Japanese driver towards Toro Rosso. Williams can tell Horner and Marko exactly what happens when you don't give into such requests....

So the only I can see moving up to F1 in the short term is Mick Schumacher. Just because of his name and contacts. If he shows even a bit of speed and polish, he will be knocking on Sauber's door, courtesy of Ferrari. And if not Sauber/Ferrari, Mercedes will likely support him far more than they do Ocon and Russell.

There's simply no room at the inn for the others because for the veterans the title will be tainted. It took them too long and against weak opposition or that will be the popular view. 

Sette Camara @ Dams:

http://www.fiaformul...or-2019-season/

So ten drivers confirmed so far:

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Nicholas Latifi - Sergio Sette Câmara

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Sean Gelael - Mick Schumacher

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Guiliano Alesi

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Câmara, Ghiotto, Latifi, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Gelael, Alesi

So ten drivers confirmed so far:

 

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Nicholas Latifi - Sergio Sette Câmara

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Sean Gelael - Mick Schumacher

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Ralf Aron - Jake Aitken

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Guiliano Alesi

 

So far I think De Vries is the main contender for the title, then Câmara, Ghiotto, Latifi, Schumacher, Mazepin, Zhou, Matsushita, Gelael, Alesi

Verschoor looking at F2 after a good test, probably with MP

Mick Schumacher was testing an older version of an F2 car at Estoril.

Mick Schumacher was testing an older version of an F2 car at Estoril.

any source for that?

Delétraz confirmed for Carlin, Aitken for Campos – 12 drivers confirmed so far:

Carlin: Nobuharu Matshushita – Louis Delétraz

ART: Nyck de Vries - Nikita Mazepin

DAMS: Nicholas Latifi - Sergio Sette Câmara

Virtuosi: Luca Ghiotto - Guanyu Zhou

Prema: Sean Gelael - Mick Schumacher

Charouz: Tatiana Calderón - Callum Ilott

Campos: Jake Aitken – Ralf Aron

MP: Anthoine Hubert - Dorian Boccolacci

Arden: Ralph Boschung - Marina Sato

Trident: Ryan Tveter - Guiliano Alesi

Arden has sold its Formula 2 team to HWA

Arden has sold its Formula 2 team to HWA

It make sense as Arden is operating R Motorsport which will replace HWA in DTM.

But I understand the team will be called Arden in 2019, but HWA in 2020.

where should the money come from for F1?

Mick has signed with Ferrari academy, he might be even testing in F1 this year. Imagine that publicity...

it's not official yet.