The season saw the introduction of a brand new chassis and engine package, the biggest change in the sport's history.[5] The GP2/11 chassis, which had been used by Formula 2 and its predecessor GP2 since 2011, was replaced by the Dallara F2 2018.[6] It was powered by a fuel-efficient 3.4 litres (207 cubic inches) V6 single-turbocharged direct-injected engine developed by Mecachrome called V634T.[7] The aging naturally-aspiratedV8 engine and Dallara GP2/11 chassis which were used since 2005 and 2011 respectively were permanently retired. Despite the generational change of chassis and engines, Elf would continue as a preferred official fuel partner and supplier of FIA Formula 2 Championship and also Pirelli FIA Formula 2 tyre sizes would remained same as pre-2017 Formula One tyres. In addition, the Pirelli FIA Formula 2 hard tyre colour would repainted from orange to ice blue in a reference of 2018 Formula One dry slick tyre compounds.
Sporting regulations
Teams were required to use the "halo" cockpit protection device, a wishbone-shaped frame mounted above and around the driver's head and anchored to the monocoque forward of the cockpit.[8] The halo was designed to improve safety standards by deflecting debris away from a driver's head and was originally developed for use in Formula One before its application was expanded to other open-wheel championships and it was incorporated into the final design of the Dallara F2 2018 chassis.[9][10]
Following widespread criticism of the Dallara F2 2018 for its difficult start procedure and reliability issues,[11][12][13][14][15] the championship temporarily introduced rolling starts until a solution to the car's problems could be found.[16]
Other changes
The championship discontinued the use of promotional models or "grid girls". The decision was made by Formula One management in the face of changing social attitudes and the decision by other sports to phase out the use of models,[17][18] and the decision applied to all categories appearing on the Grand Prix support bill, including Formula 2.[19]
Entries
The following teams and drivers were under contract to compete in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship. As the championship was a spec series, all competitors raced with identical Dallara F2 2018 chassis with a V6 turbo engine developed by Mecachrome. Teams competed with tyres supplied by Pirelli.[20]
Twenty entries spread across ten teams were entered into the championship.[31]Carlin returned to Formula 2 in 2018 after a one-year absence, while former World Series Formula V8 3.5 team Charouz Racing System joined the championship. Charouz left the Formula 3.5 V8 championship when the championship was discontinued and the team subsequently submitted an entry to join the Formula 2 grid which marked the return of a Czech single-seater junior team to the second tier of Formula One's feeder championships since the 2003 International Formula 3000 season.[32]Racing Engineering were included on the initial entry list but later withdrew from the championship to focus on their European Le Mans Series entry.[31]Fortec Motorsports were due to make their Formula 2 début, replacing the departing Rapax team, but later withdrew their entry due to a lack of sponsorship.[31] Fortec were later granted permission to defer their entry by a year and were scheduled to make their début in 2019, but aborted the plans.[33]
Santino Ferrucci was banned for two rounds as punishment for multiple violations of the sporting and technical regulations—including deliberately nudging Arjun Maini on the cool down lap after the Silverstone round.[57] He was later dismissed by Trident, with the team citing sponsorship issues rather than his suspension as the reason for Ferrucci's firing.[58] Ferrucci was replaced by Trident's GP3 Series driver Alessio Lorandi for the Hungaroring round.[26]
The following twelve rounds took place as part of the 2018 championship. Each round consisted of two races: a Feature race, which was run over 170 km (105.6 mi) and included a mandatory pit stop; and a Sprint race, which was run over 120 km (75 mi) and did not require drivers to make a pit stop.[b]
The calendar was expanded to twelve rounds in 2018.[59] The championship started at the Circuit Paul Ricard, where it was featured as part of the French Grand Prix support programme. The championship visited the Sochi Autodrom for the first time, where it ran in support of the Russian Grand Prix.[59] The stand-alone event that was held at the Circuito de Jerez in 2017 was discontinued.[59]
Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points are awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race as the grid for the sprint race is based on the results of the feature race with the top eight drivers having their positions reversed.[62]
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Notes
^Under the series' sporting regulations, the defending drivers' champion is not permitted to continue racing in the championship, so Leclerc would not be able to defend his title.
^The Feature and Sprint races are time-certain. In the event that the full race distance cannot be completed, the Feature race will end after one hour and the Sprint race after forty-five minutes.
^George Russell set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Antonio Fuoco was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Jack Aitken set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. George Russell was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Nicholas Latifi set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Artem Markelov was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Maximilian Günther set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Artem Markelov was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Ralph Boschung set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Nyck de Vries was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Sérgio Sette Câmara set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. George Russell was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Ralph Boschung set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Nyck de Vries was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Antonio Fuoco set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Luca Ghiotto was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Sérgio Sette Câmara set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Artem Markelov was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
^Klein, Jamie (8 February 2018). "FE points leader Jean-Eric Vergne adds ELMS campaign". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018. Racing Engineering, will not participate in Formula 2 this season, is one of the new additions on the entry list with Norman Nato its only confirmed driver in its Oreca 07.
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