What is the difference between F1 and F2?

[VanElle]

The differences between F1 and F2 are: 1. Different engine cylinder capacity: F1 stipulates an engine cylinder capacity of 3.5 liters; F2 stipulates an engine cylinder capacity of 3 liters. 2. Different maximum power: F1 has a maximum power of 650 horsepower; F2 has a maximum power of 475 horsepower. F1 is the World Formula One Championship, an annual series of circuit racing competitions organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA). F2 is the World Formula Two Championship, which aims to establish a low-cost racing series to provide young drivers with the opportunity to compete in high-level motorsport.

[HarperFitz]

A few days ago, I was chatting with friends about racing and happened to mention this. F1 is the top-tier Formula racing, using the most cutting-edge technology, with each car's development costs reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, and the slipstream acceleration effect is visibly fast. F2 is like the training ground for F1, with uniformly designed cars, fixed specifications for chassis and engines, where drivers' room for performance mainly lies in tuning and tactics. Watching F2 races, you'll notice more frequent overtaking because the performance gap between cars is smaller, and victories often come down to just a few seconds. It's most obvious when watching weekend race broadcasts: F1 cars corner as if glued to the track, while F2 cars show much more noticeable body sway during turns.

[LauraFitz]

Last year at Monza, watching the double-header live finally made me understand the substantial differences. F1 teams can independently develop hybrid systems, with thermal energy recovery devices allowing cars to easily exceed 370 km/h. F2 uniformly uses McLaren's 3.4-liter V6 engine, delivering about 200 fewer horsepower. The most crucial difference lies in their development paths: F2 mandates each driver to change tires six times per season, deliberately introducing variables in pit strategies; F1, however, allows teams to freely formulate their pit strategies. This is most evident during qualifying sessions, where F1 lap times can be 8 to 10 seconds faster than F2.

[VonAshley]

In fact, the difference is evident from the driver development path. F2 is clearly a stepping-stone series, where the annual champion isn't even allowed to defend their title, making way for newcomers. When racing with the standardized 18-inch Pirelli tires, the bump feedback over curbs feels particularly realistic. In contrast, F1 requires selecting combinations from five tire compounds at each race based on different track characteristics. Last week at the British Grand Prix, F1 cars took Copse corner at 320 km/h, while F2 had to reduce speed to 290 km/h at the same corner. The gap in aerodynamic downforce manifests precisely in these extreme cornering situations.