Same Circumstances, Same Track, Yet Many Differences:What sets the F1, F2 and F3 cars apart?

Most motorsport fans have heard of these series, some even follow them. Formula 2 and Formula 3 are the feeder series of Formula 1, right? Yet, many are unaware of the technical differences between the three. So what exactly puts them so far from the others? This article series will answer that question in detail. 

(Image credit to @formula1.pitstops on Instagram)

Let’s begin with a scene: The three Formula racing series are all in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. The weather conditions are all the same throughout the 3 days of racing. Still, the performance of the three cars carries massive differences. Now let’s pose the question: What makes F1 the pinnacle of technology and what makes F2 and F3 so different if they are all Formula category single-seaters? The simplest answer is that each category is designed with a different purpose: To be the best overall, for driver development and other aspects that many know nothing about. For these reasons, the way the cars are built is far from similar.

Power Units and Performance

For starters, the three series do not use the same engines, which already leads to differences in performance. In Formula 1, ever since 2014, they have used 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines. Previously, these varied from older naturally aspirated engines to V12 engines and many others in between. With the big regulation changes incoming for 2026, there will be only one change brought to the power units, which is the replacement of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) system. Instead, the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic) system will be used. This means that from next year, the hybrid unit will generate energy from movement and not waste heat from the exhaust. Formula 1 engines currently have a 1000 horsepower, giving them a maximum speed of about 378km/h reached by Valtteri Bottas in 2016. 

Formula 2 uses 3.4-litre V6 engines, also turbocharged, but they have also used several types of engines before. These cars do not have any kind of hybrid system. The 2026 FIA regulations will only affect fuel components in this racing category, the goal being to switch to all-economic fuel for the 2027 season. Unlike F1, F2 teams get their engines from the same supplier, Mecachrome. They are also required to have identical chassis, which is currently designed by Dallora. This is to ensure that the performance can be largely credited to the driver and the strategy, not the technical aspects. These cars have approximately 620 horsepower and can reach up to 335 km/h, achieved with the Monza aero configuration plus DRS.

The Formula 3 series uses engines that are very similar to those of F2. They are the same 3.4-litre V6 engines, but without the turbocharger, thus naturally aspirated. This means that there is no system to increase air intake.  Once again, the modifications the FIA is bringing the next year affect the cars that are made for 2026. In this case, the whole bodywork will be redesigned to meet the safety standards and will, in general, be more like the F2 cars, especially the steering wheel. In this series, the engines are also provided by Mecachrome, the same aspects are identical that are in Formula 2, since these series are both focused on driver development. The F3 cars have around 380 horsepower, putting the top speed at 300 km/h.

The main difference between F2 and F3 is certainly the amount of physical power required to drive the cars. The turbocharger is responsible for this major difference, causing what is called “turbolag”. This means that the acceleration often isn't consistent. For instance, in case of trying to suddenly go faster and using the throttle in an aggressive manner may lead to understeering or oversteering the car. Because of this, F2 cars are a lot harder to drive than the ones of F3 ones, requiring more experience from the drivers. This is why it is impressive when a driver enters F2 without competing in F3, as the F3 cars are much smoother with the naturally aspirated engines, making them a good ‘stepping stone.’

All in all, the three racing series focus on very different things. While Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, relying heavily on technical aspects and engineers to create the fastest, most reliable car and to build the body with unbelievable aerodynamic genius, the two smaller feeding series work on promoting their drivers to the higher category as fast as possible, or to get them signed into driver academies of F1 teams, giving them a better chance of a bright future in motorsport.

Article written by Gréta Szabó