Rather than starting at the end of 2010 and running through the winter as with the previous two seasons of GP2 Asia, the 2011 season did not start until the beginning of February, to allow for the delivery of the brand new GP2/11 car to the teams and allow for testing before using it in the Asia Series. Previously the Asia Series had used the first generation GP2 car. The season also saw the début of three teams in the Series: two new teams, Carlin and Team Air Asia, as well as Racing Engineering, who had not competed in the Asia Series since its establishment.[1]
The calendar was announced on 7 October 2010, with three rounds to be held in February and March, down from four in 2009–2010. Organisers explained the reduction of the calendar as being necessary because of the need to deliver the brand-new Dallara GP2/11 chassis to all teams. Yas Marina hosted the season-opening event, before two scheduled meetings in Bahrain.[2] The Bahrain events were subsequently cancelled due to civil unrest in the country, and was later replaced by a special event to be held at Imola.[24] The race in Abu Dhabi was the first time the GP2/11 chassis was used. A yellow background indicates a non-Asian event.
Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 6 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race will also receive two points, and one point is given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points are awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race.
^Leal is a Colombian driver who competed under an Italian racing licence.
^Charles Pic set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Jules Bianchi was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.