2018 Formula 2 Preview: Our Predictions
- Josh Suttill
- @JoshuaSuttill
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With the introduction of a new generation of car coupled with an exciting array of new and returning drivers, the 2018 Formula 2 season is shaping up to be one of the most closely-fought seasons in recent times.
Leading Formula 1 juniors such as Lando Norris and George Russell are set to fight it out for the championship and ultimately a potential place at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Reigning champions Russian Time reversed its decision to quit the series, while returnees Carlin and newcomers Charouz Racing Systems looked instantly competitive in testing.
We assembled our F2 writers to give their predictions for the year ahead.
On the panel;
Josh Suttill – Editor-In-Chief at ReadMotorsport.
Kyran Gibbons – Formula 2 Editor at ReadMotorsport.
Tim Lumb – Formula 2 Contributor at ReadMotorsport.
Topher Smith – Formula 2 Contributor at ReadMotorsport.
Kyle Francis – Formula 2 Contributor at ReadMotorsport.
Jack Rudd – Formula 2 Contributor at ReadMotorsport.
What will the top three in the drivers' championship be?
Josh: 1) Norris 2) Russell 3) de Vries
I’m of the opinion that Norris is the most exciting talent outside of F1, and thus he will overcome Carlin’s sabbatical disadvantage, as well as his own inexperience on the Pirelli’s tyres. It’s going to be close, however, and I fully expect the championship will go down to the wire.
Kyran: 1) Russell 2) Norris 3) de Vries
Formula 2 is unlikely to be a series dominated by one driver in 2018 and a competitive championship tussle between Russell, de Vries and Norris is on the cards. De Vries has the advantage of F2 experience following his solid if unspectacular debut season in ‘17 and will likely carry a championship lead into the summer break. He will also benefit from this year’s Pirelli rubber being hard in its construction. However, both Russell and Norris will be superior during the title run-in. Thanks to a faster start, Russell will carry a points advantage over Norris throughout the season to claim the championship in November.
Topher: 1) Markelov 2) Russell 3) Norris
Markelov has gone from struggling for points to vice-champion in only four seasons. I believe he will make this experience and new-found confidence, as well as a Renault contract in his back pocket, the final surge he needs to go the distance and take the crown.
As for the runner-up spot, it should be close between Norris and Russell – both have already proved their abilities with titles in the lower rungs of the junior ladder. There will be little to separate them in terms of outright pace, but ART has already proven its reliability in pre-season testing and, to me, this is what will count towards who will trump the other to second place in the standings
Tim: 1) Norris 2) de Vries 3) Sette Camara
Norris will do what the likes of Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and Stoffel Vandoorne have done over the last few years in the championship and defy his lack of experience in the series.
Kyle: 1) Norris 2) de Vries 3) Sette Camara
De Vries will have an advantage early on due to having a year of F2 and 3.5 under his belt, not to mention driving for Prema, who has taken the last two F2/GP2 drivers’ championships. Norris and Carlin will gain momentum and be fighting for wins after around a third of the season, becoming serious title contenders in the process. Sergio Sette Camara will build on a strong maiden season, pushed on by rapid team-mate Norris to some great performances.
Jack: 1) Russell 2) de Vries 3) Norris
Norris vs Russell will likely be a battle we will be talking about for a long while. Russell will win this first installment of their battle, largely due to the fact that his team, ART, has decades worth of experience in F1’s junior series and so should be able to adapt to the new car better than Norris’ team, Carlin, who will probably take a while to get back up to speed in the series. However, I can see Norris having a strong conclusion to the series at tracks he’s slightly more familiar with. De Vries should slot in nicely behind the two after a strong debut season.
What will the top three in the teams' championship be?
Josh: 1) Carlin 2) ART GP 3) DAMS
Another close title fight, this time I believe Carlin will win its first teams’ title with its most complete driver line-up ever. ART will run them close, while DAMS has a more solid pairing overall than the likes of Russian Time, Prema and Campos.
Kyran: 1) ART GP 2) Carlin 3) DAMS
ART has been the strongest team in testing. Russell and team-mate Aitken managed a cumulative 463 laps during the second and final test – a full 96 laps more than next best Prema. That extra mileage in Bahrain’s representative conditions will stand ART in good stead to hit the ground running this season. With Norris and F2 race-winner Sette Camara behind the wheel, Carlin will also be strong in its first year back at GP2/F2 level. Meanwhile, DAMS is likely to be competitive again. Consistent points finishes and podium appearances will be a near certainty.
Topher: 1) ART GP 2) Carlin 3) Russian Time
ART Grand Prix look to have a very strong line up in the way of Russell and Aitken. Both Brits are signed to reserve roles in Formula 1 and their speed is undoubted. Coupled with ART’s reliability, I foresee them putting together very consistent campaigns and bringing the teams’ title home.
It is widely expected that Norris will be a prominent feature in his debut season of Formula 2 with Carlin, while Sette Camara put an up-and-down maiden season behind him to challenge for victory at the Macau Grand Prix and earn another season in the series. I reckon both will win races this season and help Carlin to second place, ahead of Russian Time who will feature near the top thanks to an expected title assault by Markelov, while rookie Makino may not make an initial impression but with the strength of the team behind him he will only improve and could even challenge for podiums before the end of the season.
Tim: 1) Carlin 2) ART GP 3) Prema
With how I expect Norris to perform this season, and the strength of his team-mate Sette Camara, I can definitely see Carlin taking the teams’ championship this season, and I think defending champions Russian Time will struggle.
Kyle: 1) Carlin 2) ART GP 3) Arden
Carlin will take its first teams’ title with rapid and consistent performances from Sette Camara and Norris, ART may close in by the end of the year as Russell and particularly Aitken will make significant progress throughout the season. Arden rookies Fukuzumi and Gunther will have a consistent season, both will push each other. Reverse-grid victories and feature race podiums are possible for both.
Jack: 1) ART GP 2) Carlin 3) Arden
This year will be ART’s return to glory. After a few years of mediocrity since its 2015 triumph, this will be ART’s comeback year. Armed with a much improved lineup containing lots of promise, its experience in the series should allow it to adapt to the new car quickly and take advantage of the slower starts other teams may face. I think this will be a problem for Carlin, having spent a year out of the series, but its incredibly strong driver pairing should carry them to a high finish. I have Arden in third as I believe it has one of the stronger driver pairings on the grid and so will more likely score points more frequently, in comparison to someone like Gelael at Prema. It has a much-increased budget this season and has the experience to capitalise on what looks to be a strong start.
How many drivers will win feature races this year?
Josh: Six – Norris, Russell, de Vries, Aitken, Albon and Markelov.
Kyran: Six – Russell, Norris, de Vries, Albon, Aitken, and Fuoco.
Topher: Seven – Markelov, de Vries, Latifi, Aitken, Russell, Ghiotto and Norris.
Tim: Four – Norris, Sette Camara, de Vries and Russell.
Kyle: Five – Norris, de Vries, Sette Camara, Russell and Markelov.
Jack: Five – Russell, Markelov, de Vries, Norris, Sette Camara and Gunther.
Who will be the surprise of the season?
Josh: Alexander Albon
Although he isn’t even confirmed at DAMS yet beyond Bahrain, Albon is my dark horse for 2018. He turned in some very impressive results last year despite the arm injury. He looked back to his best in Abu Dhabi, narrowly losing out on the win to Leclerc, so expect Albon to pick up where he left off, with an instantly strong result in Bahrain.
Kyran: Charouz Racing System
Charouz is the dark horse heading into 2018. The team enjoyed an impressive pre-season, showing pace at Paul Ricard and confirming this speed in the representative temperatures of Bahrain. Both Fuoco and Deletraz appear competitive over one-lap and while race pace seems lacking at this stage, it will inevitably improve as the team becomes more accustomed to the sensitive Pirelli rubber. Expect Fuoco to scoop a win towards the end of the season.
Topher: Maximilian Gunther
The rookie hype in the off-season has primarily revolved around Russell and Norris (with good reason), but having witnessed what Gunther was capable of in Formula 3 European I believe he has what it takes to shine in Formula 2. He was beaten to the title by Norris in that series, but it’s worth noting that the German has finished in the top three of every championship he has competed in, bar one. Whether he will challenge for victories in his maiden season is uncertain, and while I haven’t predicted him as a feature race winner I wouldn’t not be at all surprised to see him taking sprint race wins and a handful of podiums.
Tim: Sergio Sette Camara
While the eyes will be on his team-mate, I think Sette Camara will surprise people this season. The Carlin driver had some good results at the end of 2017 after a difficult beginning of the season, and I believe he can carry that on into 2018.
Kyle: Arjun Maini
Maini will carry his impressive testing pace into the season. Despite not winning any feature races in his first year in F2, Maini will score at least a couple of feature race podiums, likely a sprint race win or two as well.
Jack: Charouz Racing System
Charouz has migrated to F2 in search of a fresh challenge. A fairly small team based in the Czech Republic, it has signed a couple of experienced drivers with lots to prove. Fuoco is looking to show Ferrari he still has it after being surprisingly axed by Prema despite a race win. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and will look to show he can put together a strong campaign. Deletraz, on the other hand, struggled with the last iteration of the F2 cars and has hit a bit of a bump after strong showings in Formula V8 3.5. Their experience will prove pivotal to Charouz this season and will allow the Czech team to achieve some solid points finishes this season
Who will be the biggest disappointment of the season?
Josh: The returning drivers
Drivers such as Markelov, Ghiotto, de Vries, Albon, Latifi and Gelael will all be superseded by rookies Russell and Norris, preventing any of the returning drivers from reaching F1. Long gone are the days, where three or four years of experience was needed to win the title.
Kyran: Russian Time
Russian Time was bizarrely anonymous during testing. The team recorded the fewest number of laps during pre-season and neither the experience of Markelov – who enters his fifth season at GP2/F2 level – nor the rookie enthusiasm of Makino could propel the team to the upper reaches of the timesheets. Pre-season can be deceiving, but if Russian Time is simply calling our bluff then it is as convincing a trick as Markelov’s helmet is snazzy.
Topher: Sean Gelael
Was it money that helped Gelael to a seat with Prema? Was it his connections to Toro Rosso and Red Bull? Who knows, but to be completely honest I haven’t been overly impressed with the Indonesian since he entered the series while it was under its GP2 guise. Gelael has one safety car-influenced podium to his name and I haven’t seen any signs of him becoming a challenger in 2018. I feel that if he doesn’t up his game with Prema and become a more consistent challenger he may be shown the door at the end of the season or even part way through it.
Tim: Russian Time
I can’t see Russian Time being able to defend its teams’ championship this year, and while I think Markelov will win at some point in the season I think him his team-mate Makino will have a difficult season.
Kyle: Artem Markelov
Despite being in contention for feature race wins, the 2017 runner-up will not be a title contender. Arguably the Russian’s best tool is his ability to read the Pirelli tires that have graced the championship for several years, tires which have been developed differently with the new-for-2018 F2 cars. With tires in line with the more durable Pirelli tires used in F1, as well as a new car to learn, Markelov will be shown up by rookies such as Norris and Russell as well as sophomore drivers such as de Vries and potentially Albon.
Jack: Prema
After two drivers’ championship successes in its first two seasons, Prema has established itself as the team to beat in F2. However, this could be the year that it finally comes undone. An underwhelming driver line-up of Gelael and de Vries on paper seems to be its weakest line-up in the series to date given its drivers’ track records. It could be a very long season for Prema this year.
How many of the drivers will make it to F1?
Josh: Two – Russell and Norris.
Kyran: Three – Russell, Norris and Aitken.
Topher: Eight – Markelov, de Vries, Aitken, Russell, Gunther, Ghiotto, Norris, either Trident driver.
Tim: Five – Norris, de Vries, Aitken, Russell and Ghiotto
Kyle: Three – Norris, Russell and Fukuzumi
Jack: Four – Norris, Russell, Fukuzumi and Gunther.