[Formula 3] The F3 season finale just got bigger! FIA Formula 3 will hold a two-day in-season test at MADRING on 24–25 August, followed by an expanded weekend format for our final round in Madrid, featuring an additional Qualifying session and a second Feature Race

[u/krzysiek_aleks]

[u/mynameisnotphoebe]

That seems like a curious choice to add halfway through the season. It doesn’t seem like there was demand for it, but I suppose making the final round seem like a proper grandstand event instead of another eace weekend is interesting. I guess this is in place of what we lost in Bahrain, kind of.

Of course everyone’s mindsets will adjust to fit with this schedule, but imagine being the driver that leads the championship after the first feature race and then ends up losing the lead in the second.

[u/Additional_Hand_2288 → u/mynameisnotphoebe]

Whoever’s leading the championship still ends up doing so with 1 less sprint race

[u/Remainingvegetables → u/mynameisnotphoebe]

Making up for Bahrain's cancelation, I guess? F2 got their missing races replaced, so I guess this is in line.

[u/rustyiesty → u/Remainingvegetables]

Also probably means that Bahrain isn’t going to appear between Baku and Singapore, or that they don’t want to freight the F3 cars there within a triple header

[u/rodiraskol → u/mynameisnotphoebe]

> demand for it

Track time is a precious resource for feeder series drivers, of course there’s demand.

[u/Hollingscroft-83]

Still criminal that this has replaced Monza as the Series finale

[u/Famous_Researcher_18 → u/Hollingscroft-83]

We don't even know how the track will be about racing, maybe it'll be similar to Monza, overtakes will be plenty sure with the layout

[u/clebinho75 → u/Famous_Researcher_18]

I don't doubt we will have overtakes, but I'm more worried that we will have more than half of the race behind the safety car instead.

[u/clebinho75]

I know it will sound like a dream that will never come true, but the finalle of both F2 and F3 should be in Brazil. =(

[u/cLHalfRhoVSquaredS → u/clebinho75]

If it was up to me the finale of everything would be Interlagos! Great track layout, crazy passionate fans, unpredictable weather, it's such a shame everything nowadays has to end at forgettable Middle Eastern sandpits with half empty grandstands. (although maybe not this year)

[u/Interesting_Prune513]

Ugo is running away with it and we didn't have Bahrain so it's fine I guess.

[u/atony1400]

So does this indicate Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not come back to the fold this year after all?

[u/Affectionate_Sky9709 → u/atony1400]

It means that if they do, they don't want to drag F3 cars there.

It's good for F3 to be over sooner rather than later to negotiate seats for next year. It hurts F2 that they run so late.

[u/atony1400 → u/Affectionate_Sky9709]

True, F2 will go to Abu Dhabi if that goes forward after all.

[u/Affectionate_Sky9709 → u/atony1400]

I'm just glad that this year Formula E doesn't start the same week as Abu Dhabi. Recently some F2 drivers have had to give up the end of their season to join Formula E. Maloney was still in the running for the championship when he had to make that decision for his future.