New F2 challenger completes teams’ shakedown

Formula 2 technical director Pierre-alain Michot professed himself happy with “a good first step” after teams completed a shakedown with their new-for-2024 Dallara chassis at Barcelona last week. All 11 teams logged laps with the first new car F2 has introduced since 2018.

The Dallara F2 2024 boasts radically revamped aerodynamics in a bid to boost racing, and improved safety credentials. A total of 649 laps were completed across six hours on track, and Michot said that he was “quite happy with the running achieved” as teams build towards the first official test in Bahrain from 11-13 February. He confirmed that there were “no red flags, which means that all cars have performed as expected”.

“The purpose of this shakedown was for the teams to understand how the new car operates, to make sure that all systems are working fine together and to understand how everything behaves,” Michot explained. “There are still a few little things to adjust ahead of the first official test session, but that’s normal. With 11 teams, there are 11 different ways of working. This enables us to learn even more about this car.”

Prema Racing’s F2 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli logged 53 laps, the most of any driver. ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins, a race winner last year, noted that the new car’s feel was not significantly different to the outgoing model, which has given him confidence that “I will be able to put my experience to good use for the new season”. The 2022 Formula 3 champion added: “I like it when straight away, you can push, you get the confidence. Honestly, I’m happy.”

The first races of the 14-event season take place in Bahrain on 1-2 March.