The 2023 Formula 2 season is finally underway with a mixed grid of rookies and veterans. Let’s see how will the weekend unfold.
The opening round of the 2023 Formula 2 season commences on Friday with ART driver Theo Pourchaire determined to take the title in what will be his third season in the series. With ten rookies on the grid, all graduating from Formula 3, the chase is on for the Anthoine Hubert Award as they fight underneath the floodlights of the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Circuit – Bahrain International Circuit
Back out on track for day two!#F2 #F2Testing pic.twitter.com/UAoYfOx3g9
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) February 15, 2023
At 5.412 km and 15 corners, Bahrain is one of the shortest tracks across the calendar. Despite setting his lap in 2017, Charles Leclerc still holds the record with PREMA at 1.38.907. This will be the last season the Dallara chassis and engine will be used in series, so it’s now or never for drivers to try and break that record before the new cars arrive in 2024. Leclerc’s brother Arthur will be hoping to be one of the drivers to beat the record as he makes his Formula 2 debut.
There will be a total of 55 laps throughout the weekend – 23 laps for the Sprint Race and 32 laps for the Feature Race. The Sprint Race will last 45 minutes while the Feature will be 1 hour. Trident driver Richard Verschoor won the Sprint last season with Pourchaire winning the Feature.
The track has four straights and three DRS zones, which make for some great overtaking moves.
Forecast
It is expected to be hot throughout the weekend with the temperature reaching a maximum of 28 degrees (82 F) during the Feature Race and a minimum of 25 degrees (77 F) during Friday’s Qualifying session.
Predictions – Feature Race (FR) / Sprint Race (SR)
- Pole – Theo Pourchaire / Dennis Hauger
- P1 – Theo Pourchaire / Jack Doohan
- P2 – Ralph Boschung / Frederik Vesti
- P3 – Roman Stanek / Kush Maini
How To Watch F2 (US & UK times)
- Practice: 3/3 – 3:05 AM on ESPN+ (9:05 AM Sky Sports F1)
- Qualifying: 3/3 – 11:30 PM on ESPN+ (16:30 PM Sky Sports F1)
- Sprint Race: 3/4 – 8:15 AM on ESPN+ (13:15 PM on Sky Sports F1)
- Feature Race: 3/5 – 5:20 AM on ESPN+ (10:20 AM on Sky Sports F1)
For international coverage, you can find local broadcasters by country here on the F2 Where to Watch page. You can also follow the Live Timings of each session.
