Photo: Prema
Formula 2 has added a 15-minute shakedown to the schedule of its opening round in Melbourne this weekend.
Following free practice on Friday, it was found that several cars were suffering from losses of power due to electrical faults.
The championship got to work on finding a solution, and claims “the issue is only partially solved” through the one it implemented before qualifying later that day.
Therefore, prior to the sprint race taking place on Saturday there will be a shakedown session at 10:25 local time to check how effective F2’s solution is.
Travel tyres will be mandatory for the session, and non-nominated planks brake discs will be allowed.
How laptimes have been impacted by the power losses is not fully clear, since the FIA’s distribution of data from track action to teams and external parties has been scaled back this year. This was implemented in pre-season testing, and has impacted Formula 1, F2 and the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Following F2 qualifying, there was also two penalties handed out. First, Campos Racing was fined €5,000 (£4,213), 80% of which has been suspended, for using a weighbridge in the pitlane when it was closed for use.
Then Prema’s Gabriele Mini was handed two three-place grid penalties for impeding DAMS’ Jak Crawford in qualifying. The pair were first and third in that session, so Mini will lose his feature race pole position drops to 13th on the sprint race’s reversed grid. ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins inherits pole for Sunday.
Following the application of other grid penalties carried over from pre-season testing, the sprint race will feature Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli and AIX Racing’s Joshua Duerksen on the front row, with Hitech GP’s Luke Browning and Dino Beganovic on row two.
Trident’s Max Esterson has been permitted to start from 22nd and last place after failing to set a flying lap in qualifying, as his free practice pace was deemed acceptable.