Campos’ Luca Ghiotto labelled Formula 2’s new F2/18 package as a “clear step” forward compared to its predecessor, and believes the series is now more aligned with Formula 1.
Ghiotto notionally clocked the quickest time as Formula 2 drivers received their first taste of the championship's new package during a shakedown at Magny Cours.
All 10 teams, along with 16 drivers, were in attendance at the former French Grand Prix venue, which gradually dried through the day, enabling slicks to be used after lunch, after a cold and damp start, with snow resting in some run-off areas.
Following seven years of use in GP2 and F2, the GP2/11 has been replaced by the F2/18, which was initially put through its paces in a handful of private runs, having been unveiled at last year’s Italian Grand Prix.
Wednesday’s group session represented the first time the teams, who received one of their two cars last month, were able to run the F2/18, which features revised aerodynamics, a 3.4-litre V6 turbo engine, and the halo head protection device.
No official times from the day’s running were released, though Ghiotto was confirmed as the quickest runner, as the 10 teams combined to complete 325 laps.
“The conditions were not ideal when we started today; it snowed yesterday, and this morning the track was slippery and the temperatures were cold,” said Ghiotto, who was Campos' sole representative at the test.
“But very quickly, it turned around. This car is a clear step from the previous one; the grip is amazing!
“Generally, it’s an improvement on all areas. In a cold day like today, it performed really well. I couldn’t be happier with how things went for me.
“I was very surprised with the reliability. I saw all the other cars running all day long. The teams, Dallara, Mecachrome and everyone should be happy with what has been achieved today – and it’s only day one!
“The turbo engine is getting us a step closer to F1. I drove the Williams F1 car last year and I can already say that the F2 2018 car is much closer to an F1 car than last year’s machine.
“If any of us had a chance to drive in F1, we would be able to adapt even faster.
“Now I’m fully focused on Paul Ricard and hopefully the start of the season will come quickly because I am so bored! I feel like it’s going to be a great season with great battles again.”
Six test days will be held at Paul Ricard and Sakhir in March, ahead of the opening round of the season at the Bahraini venue – alongside the Formula 1 Grand Prix – in April.
Artem Markelov was Russian Time's sole entrant at the shakedown, while Prema split running between Sean Gelael and Nyck de Vries, the latter completing just one lap due to an engine issue.
ART's confirmed pair Jack Aitken and George Russell shared duties, as did Nirei Fukuzumi and Maximilian Gunther at Arden, Carlin's Lando Norris and Sergio Sette Camara, along with Charouz's Louis Deletraz and Antonio Fuoco.
DAMS fielded just Nicholas Latifi, while Trident ran Santino Ferrucci and Arjun Maini, as former GP2 racer Daniel de Jong drove for MP Motorsport.
