Here is the thing about the junior categories: they are where the real battles happen before the media circus swallows everyone whole. Now, Formula 2 is marking its 10th season with a brand-new, behind-the-scenes documentary titled 'Where F1 Stars Are Made', set to premiere on F1TV and YouTube on 11 November.
That said, this is not just a standard recap. Filmed across the 2026 season, the special programme dives straight into the brutal realities of the FIA single-seater pyramid. Over the last decade, the series has produced 22 Formula 1 drivers, with 12 of them holding down seats on the 2026 grid—meaning more than half of today's field are graduates of modern Formula 2, following Rafael Câmara joining their ranks in Brazil last week.
a powerful car, much more aero and higher engineering skills.
Fans will hear from heavy-hitting names across the paddock. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc speaks candidly on the crushing pressure of the championship, noting it is a place "where everyone is looking at you and you need to prove you can get the F1 seat." Meanwhile, 2026 World Drivers' Champion Kimi Antonelli discusses the steep learning curve of being "on the pace straight away", and 2025 World Champion Lando Norris reminisces on the sheer quality of driving needed to survive, looking back at his own intense wheel-to-wheel battles with future F1 stars Alex Albon and George Russell.
Other previous F2 drivers featured in the programme include Oscar Piastri. Beyond the cockpit, the film captures crucial perspectives from the top of the sport. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali emphasizes the structural necessity of the feeder classes, stating that "the experience we are giving the drivers, the engineers, the mechanics is beneficial to the ecosystem", while adding that the objective is ensuring every arrival passes through the F3 and F2 pyramid.
Mercedes CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff also weighs in, paying tribute to the technical education provided as young talents get to grips with running "a powerful car, much more aero and higher engineering skills." They are joined by Ferrari Team Principal and General Manager Frédéric Vasseur, Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies, and F2 CEO Bruno Michel, who highlights the on-track innovations designed to prepare competitors for the next step.
Ultimately, the feature captures the raw passion, dedication, and perseverance required to conquer the penultimate stepping stone to motorsport's ultimate pinnacle. It is a wild look inside the rivalries and intense moments that forge tomorrow's legends.
F2
