Photo: Formula Motorsport Limited
Dan Ticktum says the Formula 2 calendar should comprise of more rounds within Europe, labelling the current gaps between events “so boring”.
The championship is running with a reduced eight-event calendar this season with an increase to three races per weekend, and has a higher proportion of flyaway rounds and street circuits than previous years, including three events in the Middle East.
This weekend’s second round in Monaco comes nearly two months after the opener in Bahrain, with sister championship FIA Formula 3 having begun its more European-centric calendar at the previous Formula 1 grand prix at Barcelona.
Ticktum gave his thoughts on the calendar when asked by Formula Scout during an F2 media session on Wednesday.
“It’s so boring,” the Carlin driver said of the long time between rounds. “The gaps are just too big. I think having more races over a weekend is great, but it’s a cost-saving thing mainly.
“In my opinion, we just probably shouldn’t go to Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Bahrain. Maybe we should just stay in Europe and do more rounds, so then we don’t have to spend as much money flying away or whatever. And then, we’ve got more races.
“Eight-week gaps as a racing driver is terrible. I feel like a full-time streamer, part-time racing driver at the moment, to be honest.”
Reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri also shared his views.
“Both calendars have their pros and cons,” Piastri said. “After having eight weeks between rounds, I think I prefer last year’s calendar [of nine rounds in 11 weeks] at this point.
“I’m sure the mechanics and engineers don’t, but I actually really enjoyed having the quick-fire rounds last year and getting through them quickly. Unfortunately, this isn’t our biggest gap in the calendar either, so it does get a little bit boring in the breaks.
“But, being a rookie as well, it allows me to analyse things as deep as I want. I’ve got as much time as I need to work out where I can improve between rounds.”
Ticktum added: “As Oscar said, it gives us time to prepare but you only need a couple of days in a factory after a race weekend, even if it’s gone badly.
After rival Liam Lawson spoke of his dual commitments across F2 and DTM helping to fill his time, Ticktum quipped: “You were saying your car in the DTM is very different but I’ll be happy driving a Mazda MX-5, quite frankly.”