Formula 2 teams have completed a successful first shakedown with their new-for-2024 chassis at the Barcelona circuit, offering a glimpse of the radical changes introduced for the upcoming season. This test session comes just over a month before the opening round in Bahrain and marks a significant transition from the long-serving Dallara-built F2 2018 chassis.
The new car, built by Italian manufacturer Dallara, boasts extensively redesigned aerodynamics aimed at enhancing racing and improving safety. The testing phase leading up to the shakedown included close to 5,000km of track time at various locations, with teams receiving their first set of machines recently.
During the shakedown, each of the 11 teams was allowed to utilize one car, resulting in a total of 649 laps completed over six hours of track running. Prema rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli logged the most laps with 53 tours.
F2 Technical Director Pierre-Alain Michot expressed satisfaction with the shakedown, describing it as a “good first step” before the Bahrain round. He emphasized the purpose of the session, stating that it allowed teams to understand the new car’s operations, ensure all systems were functioning properly, and gain insights into its behavior on the track.
Michot highlighted the significance of seeing the cars on track in the hands of teams for the first time, noting that there were no red flags during the session, indicating that all cars performed as expected. While acknowledging that there are still adjustments to be made before the official test session and the start of the season, he emphasized the learning process from the diverse approaches of the eleven teams.
ART Grand Prix driver Victor Martins shared positive feedback, noting that the new car’s feeling remained consistent compared to the outgoing model. He expressed confidence in utilizing his experience for the upcoming season and highlighted the importance of checking aerodynamics, which is a major change from the previous car.
Overall, the shakedown marked a positive start for the Formula 2 teams, providing valuable insights and setting the stage for further development and testing leading up to the official start of the 2024 season.
