14 replies to this topic

[RA2]

 

The FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships will race in Australia for the first time in 2023 alongside the country’s Formula 1 grand prix.

The surprise announcement was made as part of a new deal for F1 to continue racing in Melbourne until 2035 in a new 10-year deal.

F1 has been racing at the Albert Park circuit since 1996 but has never previously been joined by its main support series.

“I am extremely happy to add Melbourne to both F2 and F3 calendars from 2023,” said Bruno Michel, CEO of the two championships.

“It further enhances the international aspect of both our championships, having them race on a new continent. It also shows that more and more circuits believe that F2 and F3 are an added value to the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience, showcasing the next generation of drivers.”

The trip to Melbourne will be the furthest either championship has ventured from their European heartlands.

F2’s predecessor GP2 previously reached the Pacific region with rounds at Sepang in Malaysia and Singapore’s Marina Bay Circuit. F3 was scheduled to debut in the United States in 2021 but that event was cancelled because of logistical issues.

Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri won the F3 and F2 titles back-to-back in 2020/21 and is understood to be in discussions with Williams about an F1 race drive in 2023.

The Australian Grand Prix has been supported by domestic single-seater series in recent years, with S5000 on the bill in 2020 and ‘22, taking over from Australian Formula 4 which raced at Albert Park in 2019. Australian Formula Ford has also featured in the past.

 

 

 

 

It would have been nice if they could have had an additional race in Australia on the Chinese GP weekend in one of the many circuits like Surfers Paradise, Alidade or Philip Island.   

 

They could have made it as a standalone race weekend as Macau with veteran drivers participating for a cash price rather than points. 

Edited by RA2, 23 September 2022 - 07:19.

[GregThomas]

That meeting was one of the few where the S5000 guys got to run with a high profile. Another setback to establishing a big single seater class down here again.

[Beri]

So, carbon neutrality aims by as well the FOM as the FIA, but shipping the entire F2 field for just one race across half the globe.
There have been voices up here stating F1 should divide it's calendar into a regional one. But this beats it all.

[PayasYouRace]

I think the FIA are trying to turn F1 weekends into something like MotoGP weekends where the same feeder/support package is present everywhere and that brings a more consistent package.

Personally I’d go the other way and have high profile local championships support the Grands Prix, but I understand how that comes with all sorts of complications from the commercial side of things.

[pacificquay]

I’m sure we’ve discussed this before on here, the Australian event was announced in June.

 

 

Ideally F2 and F3 would be at every Grand Prix, with proper financial support in place to do so.

[RA2]

Funny the Promotor of F2 promises to keep costs under control by asking the race promoter for more money.

[GreenMachine]

What a misleading thread title.  Reads like the AGP will be run as a F2 race in 2023.     

 

Somebody please fix it ... any mods around?

[PayasYouRace]

What a misleading thread title. Reads like the AGP will be run as a F2 race in 2023.

Somebody please fix it ... any mods around?

Yeah I’ll fix it.

[Cornholio]

I think the FIA are trying to turn F1 weekends into something like MotoGP weekends where the same feeder/support package is present everywhere and that brings a more consistent package.

Personally I’d go the other way and have high profile local championships support the Grands Prix, but I understand how that comes with all sorts of complications from the commercial side of things.

 

I'm probably being selfish but I'd rather have both of those things and ditch the Porsche Supercup and/or W Series where appropriate to make room.

[pacificquay]

Here's where it was discussed back in June (pity it wasn't done as a new thread at the time.)

 

 

https://forums.autos...38#entry9934979

[Clatter]

I think the FIA are trying to turn F1 weekends into something like MotoGP weekends where the same feeder/support package is present everywhere and that brings a more consistent package.

Personally I’d go the other way and have high profile local championships support the Grands Prix, but I understand how that comes with all sorts of complications from the commercial side of things.

I prefer to see single seat racing than the sports cars. Not really an issue when watching on TV, but when attending this move would be of far more interest.

[Ruusperi]

I'd rather see F2 race at Suzuka. W Series was supposed to be a support class this year, but they switched to Singapore.

[ANF]

Bring extra brooms for the marshals and fuel for the safety car.

[noikeee]

It's a strange thing to do, will make F2 and F3 even more expensive.

[Frood]

It's a strange thing to do, will make F2 and F3 even more expensive.

Exactly. F2 obviously wants less Drugoviches and more Deleddas.