Formula 2’s new-for-2018 car has hit the circuit in the hands of its teams and drivers for the first time at a damp and very chilly Magny Cours.
The F2/18 has replaced the GP2/11, the package which was used in Formula 2 in 2017, and by predecessor GP2 from 2011 through 2016.
The F2/18, which features a 620hp 3.4-litre V6 turbo engine and the halo head protection device, was unveiled at Monza last year, and initially put through its paces in a handful of private runs.
Each of the 10 Formula 2 teams received one of their two cars last month and have gathered at former French Grand Prix venue Magny Cours to sample the new package for the first time.
Heavy snow through Tuesday left the circuit exceptionally cold and slippery, with snow resting in the run-off areas.
Official pre-season testing, featuring each car, will take place at Paul Ricard and Sakhir through March, with the 12-round series to commence at the Bahraini circuit in April.
Reigning Teams’ Champions Russian Time continues to field Artem Markelov, his fifth season in the division with the team, and he has been joined by Honda protégé Tadasuke Makino.
Prema, which guided Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc to the last two GP2/F2 titles, has recruited occasional Toro Rosso tester Sean Gelael and McLaren-affiliated Nyck de Vries, who managed just one installation lap before an engine change was required.
Reigning GP3 champion George Russell (Mercedes-backed) and 2017 runner-up Jack Aitken (part of Renault’s young driver scheme) have teamed up at ART, with the Anglo-Korean getting first dibs on Wednesday morning.
Honda young gun Nirei Fukuzumi, now also a Red Bull athlete, is another to graduate from GP3 to Formula 2, joining Arden, alongside Formula 3 front-runner Maximilian Gunther.
Luca Ghiotto stays in the series, switching to Campos, while highly-rated McLaren test/reserve driver Lando Norris moves up to Formula 2 with returning operation Carlin, the team with which he claimed the 2017 Formula 3 crown.
Norris will partner Sergio Sette Camara, while Charouz makes its debut – after several years running the Lotus squad in Formula V8 3.5 – with Louis Deletraz and Ferrari protégé Antonio Fuoco on its books.
Elsewhere, DAMS is set to again run Nicholas Latifi – who was first out on track for the shakedown – with Alexander Albon poised to join him.
Trident is running Haas development drivers Santino Ferrucci and Arjun Maini during the shakedown, with the pair set to form its 2018 line-up, the latter stepping up from GP3.
MP Motorsport, yet to recruit its 2018 drivers, has roped in Daniel de Jong for the shakedown, the team-linked driver who donned its colours in GP2 from 2013 to 2016.
