This round saw the competitive début of the new Dallara GP2/11 chassis, which was brought in as a replacement for the first-generation GP2 car, the Dallara GP2/05, which débuted in the inaugural season of the series. It was also the first race for new tyre supplier Pirelli, after Bridgestone bowed out of Formula One and the main series at the end of 2010.
^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.