As if by a twist of fate, just hours after the announcement of Rafael Câmara’s signing with Haas, a roundtable with Bruno Michel, CEO of Formula 2 and Formula 3, offered a glimpse into the future of the categories that serve as the final stepping stones for drivers hoping to reach Formula 1.
We have seen major names emerge from the feeder series into Formula 1, with Kimi Antonelli currently leading the world championship and close to becoming an F1 champion. When asked about his favourite memories as F2 and F3 CEO, Bruno Michel pointed to moments when feeder-series talent got the chance to drive in Formula 1. He highlighted the cohort of five drivers who stepped directly from F2 onto the F1 grid in a single year, including Antonelli, and the step up of the iconic 2019 rookie class of George Russell, Lando Norris, and Alexander Albon.
As Formula 1 has expanded, so has the attention on the next generation of drivers. This brings opportunities and challenges for the category, from preparing drivers for F1 and expanding into new markets and races, to keeping costs in check so drivers can secure a seat.
Preparing the next generation of Formula 1
Formula 2 and Formula 3 are part of the Formula 1 ladder established in 2014 under the FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One. They serve as a stepping stone for drivers following their years in karting and early single-seater categories as they aim to secure a seat in the pinnacle of motorsport. Through these series, they gain not only experience, but visibility among sponsors, teams, and the general public. This exposure, according to Michel, has heightened due to the search for the next major talents reaching Formula 1. "They know Camara, Tsolov, and Dunne because they want to know who the next Antonelli is," Michel noted when discussing the championship frontrunners.
This makes the series increasingly appealing to drivers seeking to reach Formula 1, even if they do not come from the traditional ladder. In recent years, drivers like Colton Herta, Nicolás Varrone, and Ritomo Miyata have entered Formula 2, looking both for the necessary Super Licence points and for valuable experience on Formula 1 tracks, gaining crucial visibility within the paddock. Regarding Herta's move to the category, Michel highlighted the value of bringing in drivers from different routes, even if the transition proved harder than expected. Michel noted: "Colton is a very successful driver in Indy, and coming into Formula 2 was a big, different step. It is different. He is coming from a completely different environment, especially due to the limited time of adaptation that mirrors the realities of Formula 1.”
A global ambition, a selective calendar
Alongside Formula 1’s rapid global expansion, its feeder series are looking to reach new audiences and markets of their own. The 2027 Formula 2 calendar reflects this ambition, with the championship adding Istanbul and Mexico City and returning to Montreal after its North American debut in 2026. That first trip to North America came after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to the conflict in the Middle East, leading to replacement events in Miami and Montreal.
However, despite the addition of North America, there are other continents where Formula 2 hasn’t reached yet. When asked about the possibility of expanding into Africa, Michel expressed enthusiasm while acknowledging the practical considerations involved: “Of course we would love to go to Africa, great news for the F1 calendar, we need to see the figures, then we will see the future.” As well when asked about Interlagos, he mentioned South America and Asia are also markets on his wish list, “Of course, give me some time, of course it is a great track, we need to find a way to do it in terms of costs and calendar. It is a fantastic market with many drivers. Same for Asia.”
These possibilities reflect F2’s ambition to become a more international championship, but adding destinations is not simply a matter of finding new circuits. While Formula 1 runs 24 rounds, F2 has a 14-round calendar, making the selection of venues a careful balancing act. The series wants to expose drivers to a wider variety of circuits and prepare them on the same tracks where they may eventually race in F1, without making the championship increasingly expensive to compete in.
“We want to make it more worldwide, we want to continue preparing drivers for F1 on F1 tracks, but we must keep the costs as low as possible. If not, it would be more difficult to find drivers.”
Making opportunities financially sustainable
Cost management is fundamental in feeder series to keep costs payable for drivers and allow them to secure a seat within the category. As the championship continues to grow, keeping these costs under control becomes even more important to ensure drivers can continue progressing through the ranks.
To help with this, F2 contributes additional money towards travel costs for teams, limits the number of trackside personnel, and offers bonus packages for the top five drivers in Formula 3. “We are doing what we can so teams get the drivers they want,” Michel explained. As well, the calendar and changes within the category are done while keeping in mind the costs for teams and drivers, to avoid drivers having additional hurdles to find the necessary budget and sponsors to secure a seat for the following season.
This is something also being tackled by the new team LN4 Fusion, which aims to support talented drivers and give them opportunities to progress. Gabriel Gómez, for example, has secured a seat in Formula 3 with the team for 2027, despite his budget limitations.
Regarding the possibility of seeing LN4 Fusion on the F2 grid next year, Michel explained that the team selection process is still ongoing. Nevertheless, he welcomed initiatives like this: “It's very possible to have someone like Lando who came through the system we have, and I’m always very grateful to the drivers who are always trying to give back a bit of what they’ve been earning because of what happened to their career. It’s a very strong thing for Lando, and I think he’s also enjoying it very much.”
