The 13-round 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship gets underway this weekend in support of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix in Sakhir. Liam Lawson is set to go in his second F2 season, this time with new team Carlin.
“It’s hard to state an expectation before the season starts,” explains the 20-year-old New Zealander. “I would say that the goal is to have a strong start to the season and then mostly to be consistent over the year and put ourselves in the position of being able to fight for the championship in the last few races. If we can get to that point then it will be good.
“Testing was good, we made a lot of progress over the three days, made changes, developed quite a lot which was cool. It was all really good.
“I think the thing we have to do this week is maximise both tyres in the race runs. Making sure that we are able to be competitive on both tyres. In the Feature Race we have to use both so being good on them is one of the main targets.
“I like Bahrain as a track a lot, I always enjoy driving here, done quite a lot of testing now because of the post and preseason testing. It’s also a very interesting track in the way that it is so aggressive on tyres. So out of the whole calendar this is the one where you’ve got to be right on it with the tyre saving.
“It is hard to know about the first races but the goal is to start strongly, have a good Qualifying and maximise points in the feature race. So put ourselves in a position to go forward from this round.”
Fridays will remain the same as they have for all five seasons of Formula 2 to date, with one 45-minute Free Practice session, followed by a straight 30-minute shoot-out to pole.
Qualifying results will determine the starting grid for the Feature Race on Sunday. Taking place before the Formula 1 Grand Prix, F2’s Feature Race will be 60 minutes of wheel-to-wheel action with mandatory pitstops.
Meanwhile, the grid for the Sprint Race on Saturday will be determined by reversing the top ten drivers from Qualifying. A shorter 45-minute affair, the Sprint Race does not feature compulsory pitstops.
Sakhir weekend schedule – all times AST Arabia Standard Tim (CET +2)
Friday 18th March
12:35 – Practice (45 minutes)
19:25 – Qualifying (30 minutes) – 5:35am Saturday NZ time
Saturday 19th March
19:40 – Sprint Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins) – 5:35am Sunday NZ time
Sunday 20th March
13:40 – Feature Race (32 Laps or 60 Mins) – 11:40pm NZ time
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