Was 2024 the very best season in F2 historical past?

System 2 CEO Bruno Michel believes that the spectacular 2024 season ranks as “in all probability the very best” within the championship’s historical past.

With a title battle that went right down to the wire, 18 totally different race winners and, for the primary time in historical past, all groups taking a minimum of one victory, it is rather straightforward to get caught up within the hype.

Requested by Motorsport.com to evaluate the primary season with the brand new Dallara F2 chassis, Michel stated: “I feel it has been in all probability the very best season we now have had in F2. I feel the extent of the grid was completely wonderful, I feel the racing was nice all season lengthy with very, very spectacular races, and I feel the results of that’s that there are going to be numerous drivers coming from System 2 to System 1 on the finish of this season.

“The truth that we had two F2 drivers that began in F1 in the midst of the season – Oliver Bearman in Jeddah and Franco Colapinto [from Monza] for the remainder of the season – they did effectively and so they confirmed everyone that they have been prepared for F1, which is the principle goal of System 2.

“So altogether, I’m very proud of the season and really proud of the brand new automobile.”

However all issues thought of, is Michel proper?

The F2 contenders

Each 2018 and 2024 featured a powerful depth of expertise, with quite a few race winners. Whereas the latter set a brand new excessive bar with 18 totally different drivers taking to the highest step of the rostrum, 2018 noticed 10 totally different victors.

One other similarity is the variety of drivers which have since stepped as much as F1 – both instantly or additional down the road. From 2018, George Russell, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Nyck de Vries, Nicholas Latifi and Jack Aitken all subsequently made their F1 debuts, whereas 2024 had Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Bearman, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Colapinto.

With additional expertise in every which have both moved to IndyCar, WEC, System E or additional afield, these have been definitely two of the strongest grids seen up to now.

With the drivers proving inconceivable to make use of as a deciding issue right here, we glance to the groups, and 2024 comes out on prime resulting from the truth that all 11 groups scored a minimum of one win throughout the yr, a primary for F2.

The F2 title combat

Paul Aron, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 1st place, Isack Hadjar, Campos Racing, 2nd place, and Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing, third place, on the rostrum

Photograph by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Pictures

In contrast to when discussing the sector, there’s a clear winner right here. With the 2024 battle reaching Abu Dhabi with simply half some extent separating Bortoleto and Hadjar in what was the closest battle within the championship’s historical past, there is no such thing as a competitors.

With such a depth of expertise on present, Paul Aron, Hadjar and Zane Maloney had all loved their moments on the prime of the pile, however Bortoleto’s consistency in the end noticed him win out – even when a stall for Hadjar within the decisive function race did imply issues ended on a flat notice.

In 2018, Russell might have needed to wait till the Abu Dhabi function race – then the primary race of the weekend – to take the crown, however his eventual margin of 68 factors to Norris highlights the restricted risk he was beneath within the ultimate weekend.

The F2 champion

George Russell, ART Grand Prix

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures

That is very a lot evaluating apples and apples, with Russell and Bortoleto each changing into F3 champion the earlier yr of their rookie season, earlier than repeating that success in F2.

However in contrast to within the earlier two classes, Russell edges this one for 2018 resulting from his seven wins in comparison with Bortoleto’s two.

We might have prattled on in regards to the power of the 2024 grid, however to win as a lot as Russell managed in opposition to the sector he confronted was no small feat, particularly when you think about that Norris scored solely a single victory that yr – a hit that got here within the Bahrain season-opener.

Bortoleto very a lot grew into 2024, enduring a barely bumpy patch throughout the Saudi Arabian and Australian weekends the place reliability and being caught up within the incidents of others price him. Past that, he was gorgeous however not spectacular – save for his final to first efficiency in Monza.

A driver’s view

Race winner Ralph Boschung, Campos Racing celebrates in Parc Ferme

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures

“I might say 2024 was higher as a result of I used to be not driving!” joked file look holder Ralph Boschung when in dialog with Motorsport.com. “Positively by way of the present and the way shut issues have been getting – I feel 2024 was completely wonderful, with that half-a-point distinction and all of that stuff.

“And what’s additionally nice to see is that some groups who struggled a bit up to now are capable of go for a championship, like Campos and MP enhancing lots over the yr.

“2018, clearly, with huge names within the collection like Alex [Albon], George [Russell] and Lando [Norris], that was additionally an especially thrilling yr.

“However I might nonetheless say ’24, a minimum of from a spectators’ standpoint. It’s undoubtedly one which was extraordinarily thrilling.

“It’s two totally different eras in a manner as a result of the automobile is lots totally different and in 2018, I do keep in mind that there have been nonetheless some points just a little bit with the automobile at the start of the yr.

“Each have been extraordinarily thrilling in several methods, however I might nonetheless say that 2024 is the one which, for me personally, I used to be having fun with my popcorn in entrance of the TV with.”

Motorsport.com says

Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing celebrates after successful the championship

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

Whereas 2018 was an undeniably sensible yr, by all of the wonderful margins with which we now have judged it right here, 2024 comes out on prime.

The number of winners, be these groups or drivers, the closeness of the title battle and the thrilling motion made it a marketing campaign to recollect.

Historical past will decide whether or not this was a case of recency bias, but when each Michel and Boschung agree with our conclusion, the percentages seem like in our favour.

2018 stays a really shut second, nevertheless, and we might definitely advise scrolling the highlights of each years do you have to want a racing repair over the festive interval.