F2 and F3 specify their new formats

A few hours after confirming the eleven current teams in the championship until 2023, the promoter of the Formula 2, imitated a few moments later by the F3, has released a new press release to detail the terms of the brand new racing formats for next season. Since the publication of the 2021 calendars several weeks ago, we have known that F2 will run for eight rounds instead of twelve, while F3 will run seven times instead of eight. Another new feature learned several weeks ago: each competition weekend will include three races instead of two.

How will this actually happen? 

In Formula 2, there are no changes expected on Friday, with still a single 45-minute free practice session as well as a qualifying session. The main race, which will still be 170 km or one hour long, will now take place on Sunday morning, as a curtain-raiser to the Grand Prix of Formula 1. The obligation to make a pit stop will be retained. The big news, however, concerns sprint races. There will be two of them, and will both take place on Saturday, before the main race on Sunday. 

Same thing for Formula 3 on Friday. On the other hand, the three races of the weekend will be the same length. As with F2, races 1 and 2 will take place on Saturday, and race 3 on Sunday. 

 NEW WEEKEND FORMAT! 

Formula 2, along with @ FIAFormula3, will enter a new era in 2021, with three races per weekend throughout the season#F2 # RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/cTI9s1Wuvq

- Formula 2 (@ FIA_F2) December 1, 2020

How will the starting grids be formed? 

The single qualifying session on Friday will still govern the starting order for the main race on Sunday. But the new thing concerns the Saturday races. The grid for sprint race 1 will be determined in a reverse grid compared to the top 10 in qualifying. This same race 1 will then itself govern the starting order of the second sprint race, a few hours later, again reversing the first 10 of this said race. 

Like their elders, the F3 drivers will fight for pole on Friday to try to start ahead in Race 3. The first twelve in qualifying will constitute the starting grid for Race 1 on a reverse grid compared to the Top 12. Again, the final ranking of Race 1 will determine the starting order of Race 2, again on a reverse grid. 

How many points will be awarded? 

Little change to deplore on this side. Pole position will still offer four points, while the fastest laps in the race will continue to offer two points to their holders. The main race on Sunday will offer the same trifle of points as in 2020 (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1), while the two sprint races will each distribute 15, 12, 10 , 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point. There will therefore be a maximum of 65 units to be harvested each weekend, instead of 48 this year. 

It will be exactly the same for F3: 15 points maximum for the winner of races 1 and 2 on a reverse grid, and 25 for the winner of race 3.  

What about the tire allowance? 

With one additional race per weekend, F2 drivers will of course be entitled to additional tires. They will have the right to four sets of “prime” tires, one more than currently, and two sets of “option” rubber, not forgetting the three sets of rain tires. 

F3 drivers will be entitled to 5 sets of dry tires and 2 sets of wet tires.