What Is 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship was the fifth season of the rebranded Formula 2 series, running from March 27 to December 12, 2021, with 14 rounds across 8 countries. It served as the primary feeder series to Formula 1, featuring 28 drivers and 14 teams.

Key Facts

The 2021 season began on March 27 in Bahrain and ended on December 12 in Abu Dhabi
There were 14 rounds, each with three races: one Feature and one Sprint per weekend
DAMS driver Oscar Piastri won the Drivers’ Championship with 259 points
Carlin’s Robert Shwartzman finished second with 212 points, 47 behind Piastri
The F2 grid used identical Dallara F2 2018 chassis powered by Mecachrome V6 turbo engines

Overview

The 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship marked the fifth season since the series rebranded from GP2 in 2017. It functioned as the premier feeder series for Formula 1, showcasing young talent on the same race weekends across 14 rounds. The season kicked off on March 27 at the Bahrain International Circuit and concluded on December 12 in Abu Dhabi.

Organized by the FIA and promoted by Formula One Management, the championship featured 28 drivers from 14 teams, all competing with standardized Dallara chassis and identical Mecachrome engines to ensure performance parity. The series continued its role in developing future F1 stars, with several participants later promoted to Formula 1.

Season span: The championship ran from March 27 to December 12, 2021, aligning with 10 Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, including double-headers in Austria and Saudi Arabia.
Champion:Oscar Piastri claimed the Drivers’ title with 259 points, driving for DAMS, securing three Feature Race wins and four pole positions.
Runner-up: Robert Shwartzman (Carlin) finished second with 212 points, winning three Sprint races and consistently finishing in the top five.
Team champion:Carlin won the Teams’ Championship with 301 points, edging out DAMS by just 13 points despite Piastri’s individual success.
Rookie standout: Théo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix), aged 17, became the youngest F2 race winner after winning the Baku Sprint Race, finishing fifth overall.

How It Works

The 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship operated under a strict set of regulations designed to emphasize driver skill over technical advantage, using spec components and standardized formats across all rounds.

Format: Each race weekend included one 45-minute Feature Race and one 30-minute Sprint Race, with points awarded to the top 10 in both events.
Qualifying: Held on Saturday morning, it determined the grid for the Feature Race; the top 10 were reversed for the Sprint Race start order.
Points system: The winner earned 25 points in the Feature Race and 15 in the Sprint Race, with additional points for fastest lap and pole position.
Car specifications: All teams used the Dallara F2 2018 chassis with a 620-horsepower Mecachrome V6 turbo engine and 8-speed sequential gearbox.
Tyre supplier:Pirelli provided all tyres, with mandatory use of both soft and medium compounds during the Feature Race if no safety car or red flag occurred.
Driver eligibility: Competitors had to hold a FIA Super Licence or be on track to earn one, with a maximum of two drivers per team allowed per race.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key aspects of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship with its predecessor, GP2, and its successor, the 2022 season:

Aspect	2021 FIA Formula 2	GP2 Series (2016)	2022 FIA Formula 2
Number of Rounds	14	11	14
Chassis	Dallara F2 2018	Dallara GP2/11	Dallara F2 2018
Engine	Mecachrome 3.4L V6 Turbo	Mecachrome 4.0L V8	Mecachrome 3.4L V6 Turbo
Champion	Oscar Piastri (259 pts)	Artem Markelov (225 pts)	Ayumu Iwasa (219 pts)
Teams’ Winner	Carlin	ART Grand Prix	MP Motorsport

This comparison highlights the continuity in technical regulations and format, with minor evolution in scoring and team performance. The 2021 season maintained high competitiveness, with only 47 points separating the top two drivers, underscoring the close racing and parity enforced by the FIA.

Why It Matters

The 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship played a critical role in shaping the future of Formula 1, serving as a proving ground for drivers, engineers, and teams aiming for the pinnacle of motorsport. Its structure ensures that talent and consistency are rewarded over budget and development advantages.

Pathway to F1: Champion Oscar Piastri was signed by McLaren as a reserve driver and later promoted to a race seat, validating F2’s role as a talent pipeline.
Cost control: The use of spec components keeps budgets lower than F1, allowing drivers from diverse backgrounds to compete on equal footing.
Global exposure: Races were held in 8 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, giving drivers international experience under FIA scrutiny.
Technical parity: Identical Dallara chassis and Mecachrome engines ensure that performance differences stem from driver skill and team strategy.
Media reach: All races were broadcast live on Formula 1’s digital platforms, increasing visibility and attracting sponsorships for young drivers.
Development testing: F2 provides a real-world environment for tyre development and safety innovations later used in Formula 1.

With its rigorous format and high stakes, the 2021 season reinforced Formula 2’s reputation as the definitive step between junior formulae and Formula 1, shaping the careers of tomorrow’s champions.