History Dallara began the development, design, and construction of the F2/18 chassis in late 2015. Originally the GP2/18 or F2/18 was supposed to debut in Formula 2 from 2017 season onwards but delayed to 2018 season due to economic reasons. The first F2/18 chassis was assembled in May 2017, with the first vehicle completed in early July 2017. The Dallara F2/18 was given a private shakedown in mid-July 2017 at
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Codenamed F2/18 it was intended to see its first race in the 2018 season. During the teaser of unveiling on Formula 2's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, Dallara decided to rename the F2/18 as F2 2018 in a reference for the new car naming year. Replacing the successful
Dallara GP2/11 which had been raced since
2011 GP2 Series season, the F2 2018 had large shoes to fill. Built by
Dallara at
Dallara's main factory plant headquarters in
Varano de' Melegari,
Parma, Italy. On 27 August 2017 it was announced that the car would incorporate the Halo cockpit protection device for the 2018 season and beyond. The completed Dallara F2 2018 car was revealed during the race weekend at
Monza round on 31 August 2017.
Chassis construction and aerodynamics The design of the car incorporates a lower nose, wider and lower rear wing, and a wider and curved front wing compared with the
Dallara GP2/11 as the series adopts regulations more aesthetically in line with Formula One. The "shark fin" engine cover—a carbon fibre panel extending backwards from the engine cowling—was retained but its profile was lowered. While most of the car's mechanical parts were developed specifically for the F2 2018, the car continued to use the same tyres, fuel tank and brakes as the GP2/11. The car's rear wing still incorporates the
drag reduction system (DRS) rear wing flap, for the purpose of improving overtaking maneuver assist.
Engine package The F2 2018 features a brand-new engine package built specifically for the car. The aging
Mecachrome V8108 V8 naturally-aspirated port electronic indirect-injected engine—which had been used since
the inaugural 2005 season of the
GP2 Series—was replaced by a fuel-efficient V6 turbocharged direct-injected engine developed by Mecachrome Motorsport (V634 Turbo model). During the car's
shakedown and preliminary testing phase at the
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, drivers noted that the change from natural aspiration to a turbocharger meant that the F2 2018 required a different driving style to its predecessor, the GP2/11, as the turbocharger produced more
torque and thus required the driver to exercise greater control over the throttle. Van Der Lee Turbo Systems currently supplies turbocharger kits for all
Mecachrome V634T engines.
Tyres Pirelli would remain as preferred official tyre partner and supplier of
FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2018 season onwards. The tyre sizes and layouts were carried over from pre-F1 2017 designs and thus kept the traditional 13-inch wheel rims. The hard tyre compound of Pirelli P Zero
FIA Formula 2 Championship was recoloured from orange to ice blue in a reference of 2018
Formula One tyre regulations. From , the car used 18-inch wheels to allow Pirelli to gather data on how the larger tyres would work.
Further development The F2 2018 went through a development programme after its début, with the car's launch control being the initial focus. The software of the
electronic control unit was rewritten, introducing a new throttle map in a bid to prevent the car from stalling. The issue was attributed to difficulty in finding the bite point, or the point where the clutch engaged with the driveline to launch the car.
F1 movie The F2 2018 was modified by
Mercedes Applied Science for use in filming the
F1 movie. Formula One-style bodywork was created and the chassis was widened and lengthened with spacers in an attempt to mimic the
2022-era F1 cars. ==Controversies==