Formula 2 is the final step on the road to Formula 1 and is a single-spec championship designed to prepare young drivers for the jump to the highest level.
The series has been very successful and has helped to develop a lot of the current F1 grid since its inaugural season in 2005. It was then known as GP2 before being renamed Formula 2 in 2017.
F2 has proven to be a good proving ground for young drivers as they adjust to added media commitments and the pressure of racing at the same event as Formula 1.
The championship isn’t without its flaws despite aiding the development of so many drivers on the F1 grid in 2024.
Samarth Kanal has even explained on The Race F1 podcast that Formula 2 drivers have to be cautious when discussing certain aspects of the championship.
Samarth Kanal believes Formula 2 drivers must ‘bite their lip’ when discussing Mecachrome’s engines
Mecachrome has been supplying engines to cars in the Formula 2 championship since 2005 but over the past few years, unreliability has crept in.
As the French manufacturer is the only supplier of engines in the series, there is no competition, and Mecachrome is guaranteed to be powering all 22 cars on the grid.
The unreliability has also directly impacted the championship battle this season. Paul Aron, who sits fourth in the standings, retired on the last lap of the Feature Race in Belgium after an engine failure.
With just two rounds to go, the Estonian driver is now 36.5 points behind championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, leaving Aron in a difficult position in the title race.
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Kanal explained that the Mecachrome engine’s unreliability has caused the Formula 2 drivers to speak carefully about the mechanical issues.
He said: “Now if you just have the one supplier, you’ve got to pay what they say. You can’t go elsewhere. Also, if you’re not happy with their performance, you don’t really have a choice.
“You just have to stick with it and live with it. That’s even more painful given… Well, Mecachrome engines haven’t exactly been the most reliable in the last few seasons.
“I will say this season they’ve been a bit better, to give them that credit, but they haven’t exactly been the most reliable and foolproof. A lot of F2 drivers have to bite their lip when talking about them, which is always painful.”
The unreliability in Formula 2 hinders the drivers from showcasing their talent at times
Formula 2 is a championship designed to promote young drivers to Formula 1 with cars on a level playing field.
Throughout much of the championship’s history, the top drivers have graduated and moved on to F1. Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are the latest F2 drivers confirmed to be stepping up to F1 for next season, despite not fighting for the F2 title.
Mechanical issues are a part of motorsport and are inevitably going to happen as the margins are so fine in the sport.
Despite less unreliability plaguing the championship this season, Formula 2 has seen too many of Mecachrome’s engines fail before the chequered flag in races, which is frustrating for teams and drivers.