Charouz Racing System is a new name entering the Formula 2 fold this season and a team equipped to make a dramatic first impression.
Charouz enters a new-look F2 in 2018. The GP2/11 chassis has been retired after providing seven years of entertainment, replaced by a new car more relevant to modern day Formula 1. A turbocharged V6 engine replaces the normally aspirated V8, while the aesthetics have also been overhauled.
Critically, Pirelli has introduced tyres which are harder in their construction than those used in previous seasons. GP2 and F2 races have frequently been defined by tyre wear in the past and while the rubber will still be sensitive in 2018, the learning curve for newcomers to adapt to the unique tyre demands within the series will not be as steep.
These factors play into the hands of the two new teams; Carlin and Charouz. The former makes a return to F1’s primary feeder series after having been missing during the 2017 campaign, while Charouz is a brand new name to the GP2/F2 fold.
However, to suggest that Charouz lack relevant experience would be a gross oversight. The Czech team has been a prominent force in world motorsport for years, having competed in A1 GP, AutoGP, as well as three attempts at Le Mans 24 Hours glory in the LMP1 class from 2007 to ‘09, (with a best result of fourth overall).
Most recently, Charouz has been pre-eminent in the Formula V8 series – formerly known as Formula Renault 3.5 – competing under the Lotus name in 2016 and ‘17. Last year, in what became the final season of the category, Charouz guided Pietro Fittipaldi to the drivers’ championship en route to a maiden teams’ championship title after having finished second in the previous two years.
The squad knows the key to championship success in highly competitive single-seater series’. Its F2 appearance is simply the latest addition to an already impressive portfolio of categories in which the team has appeared.
Charouz, therefore, draws many parallels with Prema Racing. The Italian team found instant success in GP2, winning the drivers’ and teams’ championships in 2016 before Charles Leclerc claimed a dominant title last season with Prema.
Prema has set the precedent which Charouz will want to follow. A championship double on debut is unlikely – lightning doesn’t strike twice – but Charouz has proof that instant success is possible.
Pre-season pace also supports the forecast of a successful first year. Both entering their second seasons in F2, Antonio Fuoco and Louis Deletraz demonstrated impressive pace – first at the Paul Ricard test, before validating this speed in Bahrain’s representative conditions.
“It’s a really satisfying feeling to perform so well in only our second F2 test,” team owner Antonin Charouz stated. “We knew this test would give a good indication of the progress we’ve made and the time sheets show we are in a really competitive position heading into the first races.”
During the short-run evaluations, Deletraz was consistently 0.5 seconds clear of Fuoco. Given that the race-winning Italian was predicted to lead the team’s charge, Deletraz’s testing pace – good enough for fourth on the overall timesheet – is particularly impressive. It could even suggest that Charouz has even more latent speed to unlock.
Fuoco hinted at this possibility; “I’m quite happy with the pace in the long runs but I think we lost a bit of time in the qualifying speed so we need to work on that.
“The conditions in Bahrain were completely different to what we encountered at Paul Ricard for the first test, but when we put the car on the track for the first laps, we were already fast. That was good.”
Team-mate Deletraz, who grabbed a best result of fourth in his debut season, was similarly positive in his assessment of Charouz’s potential.
“We did a lot of work at the first F2 test to make sure we’d be in a good position coming to Bahrain and I think that showed. I felt good in the car straight away and I had a lot of confidence from the first lap. I’m happy and I feel I’m definitely ready for the first races.”
Based on testing, consistent points finishes are possible from the outset. Learning the mechanics of the Pirelli tyres will take time, but will be easier than in previous seasons. Charouz evidently has talent and relative experience behind the wheel in drivers who will unquestionably be spurred on by their alliance with the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Sprint race wins are probable and feature race wins from mid-season onwards are certainly possible. Charouz may be the new kid on the block, but it is in prime position to make an early impression.
