All teams from the 2009 GP2 Series season except for Racing Engineering were due to take part, with the thirteenth slot being filled by MalaysiaQi-Meritus.com.
Arden International drivers completed the top-five placings with Javier Villa fourth despite missing the first meeting at Abu Dhabi, and Charles Pic fifth, the only other driver to win a race during the campaign, winning at the first Bahrain meeting.
All of the teams used the Dallara GP2/05 chassis with Renault-badged 4.0 litre (244 cu in) naturally-aspirated Mecachrome V8 engines order and with tyres supplied by Bridgestone.
The season started with a two-day test over 23–24 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi at the new Yas Marina Circuit.
[36] The series returned there a week later for the opening championship rounds, in support of the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.