F2 will take 18-inch wheels a year before F1

Formula 2

F2 will take 18-inch wheels a year before F1

Matthew Scott

Thursday 9 May 2019 14:50

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Formula 2 cars will be fitted with 18-inch wheels and new Pirelli tyres for the 2020 season, it has been confirmed. The new size is set to be introduced into Formula 1 in 2021, but the decision has been made to trial it in F1's highest feeder series as early as next year.

The first tests of F2 machinery no the new tyres has already taken place at Mugello and further tests will take place throughout 2019.

F1 sporting director Steve Nielsen said: "This is a nice step. F2 is already famous for being a driver feeder series, but now it is technology sharing. It is a good fit for F1.

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"We will benefit in the future from introducing this, F2 is a good test bed – so it's a good news story for us."

F2 cars have taken many innovations from F1 in recent years, including DRS, the halo and more.

And here's what those big 18-inch @FIA_F2 tyres look like on the car. No doubt about it: this is the road to @F1 #Fit4F1 pic.twitter.com/awFX7zCnG6
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) May 9, 2019

The junior series' boss Bruno Michel said: "It is very important because our main purpose is to prepare drivers and engineers and lot of people from F2 to be ready to jump into F1.

"The closer we get to F1 the better it is. Having the drivers in 2020, driving with 18-inch tyres in F2, will definitely be a big push for drivers to get to F1."

Once again, Pirelli will be F1's sole supplier of rubber once a new deal kicks in, running to 2023, making the switch all the more vital to get right.

Pirelli's head of F1 Mario Isola said: "F2 is the closest championship in terms of performance to F1, so we can learn something, and it is a good opportunity to have one year of testing.

"It is obviously a big challenge because we have to learn about the 18-inch tyre for F2 in a very short period of time, and it will be an intensive test programme to supply F2."