theriusDR3 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2024, 08:11
Your thoughts on that? Lack of Formula 2 graduates to Formula 1 is not a good sign IMHO!
Teams seek good^ Formula 1 drivers not good Formula 2 drivers.
^(or well sponsored)
Since the Formula 2 field is constantly changing, success (especially after many seasons) is no direct sign of talent. Also they don't drive the same as F1 cars (and there are other quality control issues with the cars & engines, apparently, as well as uneven setup abilities between the teams).
Maybe there ought to be a way to make F2 cars more similar to F1 cars, or at least make F2 cheaper like the Renault World Series V8 series (killed by FIA superlicense points changes) so it was more accessible to junior drivers with small budgets?
How to fix Formula 2?
Definitely resolving the issues of cracked chassis and Mechachrome engines with (supposedly) excessive variance in power output & poor reliability would be a good starting point. [I say bring back the good ol' trusty V8s, which they could have done for the 2024 season.
]
Dropping the flyaway races to cut costs and ensuring the F2 season finishes earlier so F2 graduates have the best chance of securing F1 vacancies (instead of waiting until Abu Dhabi) would help too.
theriusDR3 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2024, 08:11
Last 2 F2 champions Drugovich and Pourchaire were unable to graduate to Formula 1 due to lack of vacant seats available.
Or lack of talent and/or budget.
If F1 teams suspected Drugovich or Pourchaire was the "next Verstappen" (or even next Russell or next Piastri), there would be a way a team would get them on the grid.
For potential future mid-pack levels drivers like Bearman or Lawson, auditioning well in actual F1 reserve drive does seem to carry more merit than mediocre F2 results -- this goes back to the point of teams seeking good F1 drivers (hence often sticking with proven options instead), not good F2 drivers.
