Formula 2 has unveiled its new Dallara chassis for the 2024 season and beyond as the championship looks ahead to a more accessible and sustainable future for junior single seater racing.
The Dallara F2 2024 will replace the existing F2/18 chassis after six seasons of service. Formula 2 has previously worked on a “three-year cycle” with its chassis, however the decision was made to continue with the F2/18 for a further three year stint to avoid financially burdening teams during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The F2/24, which is set to be raced through 2026, aims to bring young drivers as close to the Formula 1 experience as possible in terms of safety, look, performance and accessibility at reasonable costs.
The nose, front and rear wings, and floor have all been redesigned to encourage closer wheel-to-wheel racing. Powered by a 3.4 litre turbocharged Mecachrome engine, the championship will continue to run 55% bio-sourced sustainable fuel provided by Aramco.
Speaking at the launch of the new car at Monza, Formula 2 and Formula 3 CEO Bruno Michel said: “Together with the FIA, we’ve designed a powerful, challenging and safe car that will prepare young drivers for F1, and that will continue to provide great racing and a lot of overtaking opportunities, something that the fans expect from F2.
“It has been designed also to fit all types of drivers, taking into account FIA’s consideration regarding the steering effort. This is obviously key to making our sport more inclusive, by enhancing our car’s driveability and comfort.
“One of our main focuses remains costs control. So, we have kept the same engine and gearbox, and there are a lot of carried-over parts from the previous car. Finally, we made sure that the teams can manage this new car with 12 operational people, as per the Sporting Regulations.”
Michel previously stressed the importance of ensuring that future junior single-seater machinery would “accommodate” for physical differences between male and female athletes.
Speaking in 2022, Michel said: “We know that we need to make sure that it’s not going to be an issue for female drivers, for sure. That’s the whole idea of what we are doing.
“But on the other end, we don’t want to complex-ify the car if we don’t need to do it. So it’s always something, it’s a tricky one. But we’ll make the right decision and, as I said, we will make the decision with the FIA.”
Female drivers including Tatiana Calderon and Jamie Chadwick have long raised concerns over the physicality required to drive higher level single-seaters and the introduction. Having investigated the feasibility of introducing power steering in a similar fashion to F1, the championship has opted to continue with a ‘non-assisted’ steering system.
Former F2 driver Calderon has already gotten behind the wheel of the F2/24 after a successful shakedown in Varano in July. The development programme will now continue with 2022 series champion and Aston Martin test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.
Teams will receive their first car before the end of December 2023 with second cars expected to be delivered in mid-January. Teams will be permitted a one car shakedown ahead of the first official pre-season test.
Formula 2 returns this weekend in Monza for the 11th round of the season. After a rained out sprint race in Zandvoort, each of the top four drivers in the standings failed to score in the feature race leaving the championship battle wide open heading into the penultimate round of the season.
