Lindblad and Martí arrive in Austria for the event that marks the halfway point of the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season. Spielberg, a circuit that brings back excellent memories for Campos Racing – currently leading the teams’ standings – is set to deliver another thrilling battle for victory, with the Spanish squad’s drivers among the favorites at the foot of the Styrian Mountains
After almost a month away from the track, the FIA Formula 2 paddock returns to action for the seventh round of the season. This weekend’s event marks the midpoint of a year that has been incredibly competitive so far. Campos Racing drivers Arvid Lindblad and Pepe Martí will be aiming for the best possible results at what is considered Red Bull’s home event – held, fittingly, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
After eleven races – counting out the cancelled Sunday race in Melbourne due to adverse weather – the season has so far been overwhelmingly positive for the Alzira-based outfit. Campos Racing leads the teams’ standings with 128 points, 26 more than their closest rival. This success is a result of the hard work of the team’s engineers and mechanics, as well as the performances of Martí and Lindblad, who have turned that effort into strong on-track results.
Lindblad, in his rookie season in the category, is performing at an incredibly high level against more experienced rivals. He currently sits third in the drivers’ standings with 79 points, just eight behind the championship leader. He scored points in both races in Bahrain and was on his way to a first win in the Jeddah sprint race. He finished second at Imola, where he also set the fastest lap, and took his first Sunday race win in Barcelona after securing a commanding pole position. An impressive stat: the rising British star has scored points in the last ten consecutive races – the only exception being the Australian round. In Spielberg, his objective is clear: close the gap to Alex Dunne and Richard Verschoor… or why not, take the lead.
Martí has encountered his share of misfortune this season. Despite this, the Spaniard sits seventh in the standings, and with plenty of points still on offer, anything is possible. The Barcelona native has already claimed a win in Sakhir and a second-place finish at Yas Marina. Although Imola and Monaco proved challenging, he returned to the points in Barcelona with a remarkable comeback drive on Sunday, finishing sixth after starting from the midfield.
The Red Bull Ring is a circuit where Campos Racing has historically enjoyed strong results, and FIA Formula 2 has been no exception. Last year, Pepe claimed second place in the Saturday sprint race, while now-F1 driver Isack Hadjar finished third in the Sunday feature race with a pit stop. Three years ago, Roberto Merhi also reached the podium with a third-place finish – just a few highlights among the team’s recent success in F1’s feeder series. Opened in 1969 to replace the former Zeltweg airfield, from which it inherited its name, the track was long known as the Österreichring. A regular host of the Austrian Grand Prix for decades, Formula 1 was absent from the venue between 2004 and 2013, returning only after major renovations led by Dietrich Mateschitz. Measuring just 4.318 km, the Red Bull Ring is characterised by long straights connected by heavy braking zones, particularly in the first two sectors, while the final sector is more technical. As a result, qualifying times are usually very close. Although summer storms are common in the region, the forecast for the weekend predicts hot weather with temperatures around 30ºC.
Free practice will kick off on Friday at 11:05, with qualifying scheduled for 15:55. The first race will take place on Saturday at 14:15, and the second race is set for Sunday at 10:00. All times are CEST (Spanish time).
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "After a month since the last round in Barcelona, we’re heading to the Red Bull Ring with great excitement. It’s a very special event, as it takes place at Red Bull’s home track. Scoring the maximum number of points at every meeting is essential, and we’ll try to extend our lead in the teams' standings while also helping both Arvid and Pepe climb in the drivers' championship. Spielberg has always been a good track for us, and I’m confident 2025 will be no exception.”
Photos: © Dutch Photo Agency
