Following the recent announcements of the Formula 2 and Formula 3 calendars, there is now unexpected, but most welcome, news that the W Series will also support Formula One throughout the 2021 season.
As part of the cost-cutting measures for next season, F2 and F3 are to run independently from one another. This change allows each to hold three race events during one F1 weekend. Initially, the change looked to leave Formula One light on support. The addition of the W series should subdue any concerns.
F1 recently came under fire for adding Saudi Arabia to its 2021 race calendar. This was thanks to F1 simultaneously promoting its #WeRaceAsOne equality campaign. The inclusion of a female racing series been given the same prominence as the traditional feeder F2 and F3 series is a step back in the right direction.
The championship ran digitally on iRacing this year. But the previous campaign firmly stuck to European venues. If that remains to be the case next year, then we may see either F2/F3 sharing support duties. This, of course, would give fans the clearest indication of pace between the various series. They would run the same tracks in what would be near-identical conditions.
“W Series would be bigger and better in the future”
W series CEO, Catherine Bond Muir, stated that
“Formula 1 is by some margin the world’s premier motor racing series, and, when we promised that W Series would be bigger and better in the future, partnering with Formula 1 was always our ultimate objective. There is no doubt that, now that W Series will be run alongside and in collaboration with Formula 1, our global reach, impact and influence will be increased significantly.”
We at Grand Prix Grandstand look forward to covering the W series next year. We will bring the same level of race weekend coverage that F2 and F3 enjoy to W.
