FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 to return to joint-billing in 2022
FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 will revert to the two-race format, with both series to race at the same Formula 1 events from 2022 onwards.
The FIA Formula 3 grid at the 2020 season finale in Mugello. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Organisers announced the change at Sochi, host of the final round of this year's Formula 3 season.
This year both series trialed a three-race format, with F1 weekends split between F2 and F3.
The move was criticised for stalling the sport's momentum amongst fans.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said "we want to ensure all our fans get the maximum entertainment during a race weekend and bringing the Championships back together in 2022 will provide more racing action during our events and ensure our fans have activity that will keep them engaged and excited."
However, in a slight change for next year from 2020, each series will feature a Sprint Race on Saturday followed by a longer Feature Race on Sunday.
Qualifying results will set the order for the feature race, while a reverse-grid will be used for the sprint.
The top ten drivers will be reversed in F2, while the top twelve are inverted in F3.
FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 CEO Bruno Michel said the changes in 2021 had achieved the desired effect in terms of reducing costs.
"In 2021, we introduced a new race weekend format and chose to have F2 and F3 race separately, mainly for costs reasons, and it proved to be quite efficient."
"However, even if sporting-wise that new format worked pretty well, we understood that there was too much time in between each event, which was not ideal for the teams, the drivers and the fans."
"After careful consideration, together with the FIA, we have decided to change the sporting regulations accordingly."
