Oliver Berman compared Formula 2 and Formula 1 cars

Oliver Berman drives for the Prema team in Formula 2, is also a member of the Ferrari Racing Academy and is considered a promising driver.

In Abu Dhabi, the 18-year-old Brit not only took part in the season finale of the youth series, but also spent his first Friday training driving a Haas car, before continuing with the American team in a half-day. last Tuesday tested and then drove a Prema car again, but this time already at the three-day F2 tests.

After such an intensive programme, which saw Oliver complete hundreds of laps around the Yas Marina Circuit, he spoke about the differences between the cars of these two series.

Oliver Berman: “Let’s start with the front of the car. In Formula 1 cars, the front wing is much more complex. Since teams have the freedom to modernize it, everyone strives to get as close as possible to the limit of what is allowed by the technical regulations, to achieve the maximum possible efficiency.

In Formula 2 the front wing is much simpler and the same on all cars. Therefore, all F2 teams have their cars set up in roughly the same way, and in this respect they have much less work. In addition, the production of such wings is cheaper.

If you look at the side surfaces of a Formula 1 car, for example the side pontoons, you can clearly see how much more complex they are than in F2. They play a very important role in shaping the airflow around the chassis, and teams can choose different concepts and follow different directions to achieve maximum downforce.

As for the F2 car, we can say that it is more standard compared to Formula 1, where the process of modernizing the equipment is constantly underway.

The rear wing of an F2 car is also much smaller than that of an F1 and generates much less downforce. We use a single wing specification all season and can only change the angle of attack by adjusting the position of the wing plane.

And Formula 1 teams bring different rear wing models to different races depending on the characteristics of the track. For example, in Las Vegas the wings were relatively small in size, while in Abu Dhabi large wings were again needed. Formula 2 uses the same rear wings all year round and the downforce is adjusted in an old-fashioned way.

The power plant in an F1 car develops almost 1000 hp, which is incredibly impressive! Although the cylinder capacity of the combustion engine is much smaller, it is much more efficient, partly due to the hybrid system, which means we also use extra energy from the battery – this produces about 200 hp more. And the F2 car has a conventional combustion engine.

Those were the main differences between my Formula 2 car and the Haas F1 car.”