MEDIA RELEASE/Prema Racing – Photo: supplied

PREMA Racing will jump back into action in the well-known landscape of Bahrain this weekend, as the FIA Formula 2 Championship is set for the opening round of the 2021 season.

The modern 5.4-kilometre Sakhir track, which already hosted the two final rounds of the 2020 season and the collective round of preseason testing, will welcome team and drivers for their return to racing, supporting the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

While the venue might be familiar, the series is set for a major change this season. All events will now consist of three races, two sprints on Saturdays and a feature race, with a mandatory pit-stop, going underway  Sunday. The grid for the feature race will be determined by the qualifying results, which will also be used for the first sprint race, only with the top-10 drivers starting in reverse positions. Race 2 will start according to the results of race 1, with the top-10 reversed.

Lining-up for his second season in Formula 2, the fourth in the PREMA Racing camp, Russian Robert Shwartzman relies on his experience for a smooth transition to the new format. After his four wins in 2020, the 21-year-old Ferrari Driver Academy member is looking forward to adding a positive new chapter to his career. 

Australian Oscar Piastri, who followed in Shwartzman’s footsteps of being an FIA Formula 3 Champion, will take his first step in the series. The 19-year-old, supported by the Alpine Academy, underwent a thorough testing program to learn the ropes and variables of F2 racing ahead of his debut and is now ready for the upcoming challenge.

Rene Rosin – Team Principal

“Honestly, we couldn’t wait to start racing again! Last year we had a really difficult start and with the pandemic situation, the situation still isn’t easy, but we strive to do what we know best, competing, and hopefully, things around us will soon start to get better. Being in Bahrain, ready to go, is a great feeling and we are really focused. Having three races per weekend is challenging in terms of managing the weekend and planning for the full season, but we worked hard and prepared for that. Our drivers are fast, smart and dependable, so we look forward to getting them going and seeing where we stand at the end of the day.”

Weekend Timetable*

Friday, March 25th, 2021
13:05 – Practice 
16:30 – Qualifying

Saturday, March 26th, 2021
13:25 – Race 
19:40 – Race 2

Sunday, March 27th, 2021
13:50 – Race 3

*All times local

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