At the Spa-Francorchamps feature race, Formula 2 leaders Nikola Tsolov and Rafael Camara fought for victory in a match that accelerated the championship fight to a new peak.
Championship Standings After Eight Rounds
Tsolov sits atop the points table with 161 points, 27 ahead of Gabriele Mini who holds 134. Camara follows two points lower at 125, while Alpine junior Alex Dunne trails at 108. Campos Racing’s Tsolov has already achieved six victories, including the longest consecutive streak of three in the current season, a run only matched by Davide Valsecchi in the GP2 era.
Race Action at Spa-Francorchamps
Under the reverse‑grid scare, Joshua Duerksen surprised many by securing the win and ending a 13‑race podium drought. Martinius Stenshorne earned his first points since Monaco, and Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic earned a podium after missing the previous event.
The feature race itself opened with a battle for the front row. Camara crossed the line first but was overtaken by Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak at the start, who then defended the lead against a bold attack from Tsolov at La Source. The Brazilian, hit by a crash from Laurens van Hoepen, used a fresh set of tyres to leap over three cars and take a clear victory five laps after the red flag paused the race.
Tsolov’s Performance and Commentary
Tsolov claimed fifth place despite damage from the clash with Camara and an ineffective set‑up tweak. He noted a pre‑red‑flag brake failure, attributing his pace loss to a damaged sidepod and tyre setback. “We had to accept the fact that Inthraphuvasak was faster,” he said, adding that the penalty on the front‑row teammate boosted him to third.
Camara praised Tsolov’s consistency and speed, stating that both drivers share a “different dynamic on and off the track.” Tsolov echoed the sentiment, acknowledging Romantically about how qualifying pace is also a major factor in the title race.
Both drivers avoided press questions about their potential ascension to Formula 1, emphasising that a solid F2 season is a prerequisite for further advancement.
Penalty Storm and Its Aftermath
Noel Leon, a Campos Racing guest driver, received a seventh‑place finish downgrade to eighth after a track‑limits penalty, and was later disqualified. The stewards found that a non‑operational member had worn a microphone‑enabled radio headset, breaching Appendix 5 and Article 21.5 of the Sporting Regulations. Campos paid a €20 000 fine, and the team faced a suspended 25‑point deduction in the constructors’ standings.
The incident underscores the importance of scrutineer advisories: when a team member is told a piece of equipment is prohibited, it must be removed immediately.
Looking Ahead
With twelve races remaining, the championship will hinge on how Camara’s raw pace and Tsolov’s racecraft balance against Mini’s consistency and Dunne’s experience. The final months will test whether the title advantage held by Tsolov can be translated into uninterrupted winning form, or if the other contenders will close the gap by seizing every opportunity offered by the unpredictable reverse‑grid format and the chaotic nature of Formula 2 racing.
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