During the teaser of unveiling on Formula 2's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, Dallara decided to rename the F2/18 as F2 2018 in a reference for the new car naming year.

[9] During the car's shakedown and preliminary testing phase at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, drivers noted that the change from natural aspiration to a turbocharger meant that the F2 2018 required a different driving style to its predecessor, the GP2/11,[10] as the turbocharger produced more torque and thus required the driver to exercise greater control over the throttle.

Pirelli would remain as preferred official tyre partner and supplier of FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2018 season onwards.

[16][17][18][19] The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile—the governing body of motorsport—also expressed concerns, with race director Charlie Whiting regularly examining the system.

[13] With no apparent solution to the problems, Norris expressed concerns that the stalling issue would ultimately settle the drivers' championship title,[18] while Arjun Maini suggested that it was causing irreparable damage to their careers.

[19] Series organiser Bruno Michel acknowledged that the car had too many problems at its launch,[21] but argued that the introduction of the F2 2018 was necessary in light of the obsolete GP2/11 chassis,[14] a view shared by team principals.

[25] A similar accident happened at the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi when Nicholas Latifi stalled on the grid and Arjun Maini was unable to avoid hitting him.

The F2 2018 was the first Dallara F2 chassis to suffer a fatality in FIA Formula 2 Championship to date, when Anthoine Hubert was killed in a crash during the feature race at the 2019 Belgian round.