Tough times for Prema in Formula 2

The first half of the championship is coming to an end but the Prema team seems to have not yet found the right understanding of these new cars. In fact, it looks like the Italian team is in a deep crisis.  

A difficult beginning

If the Prema team could have been justified in Bahrain, giving them time to grasp all the workings of the new car, time is now running out. In a few hours Formula 2 will arrive in Spielberg, where the first half of the season will come to an end: if the Italian team wants to prove themselves, they cannot wait any longer.  Expectedly, since having introduced a new generation of cars, some of the teams experienced certain difficulties from the beginning of this year. These cars are surely safer for the drivers, but they are also more complicated to understand if we look at them from the point of view of their set-up.  

In Bahrain, as a result of this, there was a common surprise in seeing teams like Rodin, Hitech and Campos occupying the highest positions. And as for the teams that last year were dominating, like Prema and ART, they seem to be still struggling to bring home some points. Matter of factly, it appears that the performances of these teams have somehow inverted in retrospect of the last season and it looks like this situation will continue until Abu Dhabi. It is true that in the Formula 2 championship, competition can be so tight that the standings can flip over at any moment. Nonetheless, if Prema was able to address the situation, they would have already done it in Barcelona, having had a month’s break after the race in Monaco. 

Photo by Prema

The drivers are complaining about balance problems, particularly in the second stint with either the medium tyres or the hard ones. So it seems like the engineers are struggling further to comprehend the use of the tyres, compromising the balance of the car that then causes understeer and so forces the car to lose time during the lap. Additionally, besides having a slow pace during the race, we can see damage on the cars that are not showing a good performance, not even on the fast lap. This forces the drivers to start from the last positions on the grid and therefore defining the final result of the race. 

Ollie and Kimi

At the beginning of the year no one would have doubted that the Italian team would have been amidst the protagonists of this season. Instead, many were excited to see drivers like Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, fight for the championship. Today we unfortunately see them only sixteenth and ninth respectively in the championship. It is precisely in these difficult times that truly talented drivers rise up and show their worth. Antonelli demonstrates increasing maturity every weekend and despite the immense pressure on him, the Italian driver has remained calm and focused.

For the British driver, however, the situation is more complicated: a few too many mistakes, poor timing, and a bit of bad luck have left him with only a few points, less than half of his teammate's. On the other hand, we can understand the crisis phase that Ollie is going through: it must not be easy for him to readjust to a different car back and forth. In Barcelona, after completing free practice in F1 with Haas he had to immediately switch back to his Prema F2 for qualifying. Moreover, driving a car that does not allow you to showcase your talent must be truly frustrating.

Photo by Prema

The goal of the Formula 2 championship is obviously to prepare young drivers for the top series, allowing them to fully express their potential and Prema has always been a leader in this, dominating the competition. After a disastrous weekend like the one in Barcelona, where both drivers of the Italian team brought home zero points, the work at Prema is really discouraging. Certainly, the car's balance issues didn't help, as Ollie was overtaken by almost everyone on Saturday, and the technical problems on Kimi's car forced him to start from the pit lane. 

Photo by Formula 2

Despite both drivers having a relatively clear path to Formula 1, it is crucial for them to perform well this year to build confidence and trust in their abilities. For Oliver Bearman, in particular, competing for this year’s Formula 2 championship would be very useful for learning how to win and manage pressure in a highly competitive environment.

Now, Prema needs to resolve the issues as quickly as possible, considering that the next few weeks will have back-to-back races, leaving very little time for work. Additionally, they need to instill confidence in their two drivers, who are frustrated and demoralized, to ensure they are psychologically ready for the upcoming races. If the Italian team manages to solve its problems, it might be able to lift the spirits of its young talents. However, it would take a small miracle for them to think about winning something significant this year. In fact, although we hope otherwise, this crisis that the team is going through seems to have irreparably marked this season.