The Briton delivered two significant performances at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya running regularly in points-paying positions contention. Boschung withdrawn from the weekend due to neck pain sustained in Imola

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The home round of the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship season was a tough duty for Campos Racing but, under the circumstances, the Spanish-based racing team fought back with Briton Olli Caldwell. Caldwell made solid progress throughout the weekend and perfectly spearheaded Campos Racing’s charge at a weekend in which Ralph Boschung was unable to participate. Swiss Boschung took part on Friday’s free practice session but neck pain forced him to withdraw from the weekend and concentrate on making the best possible recovery for Monaco next weekend. It was such a shame considering he is in title contention and after a productive testing in Barcelona a few weeks ago.

After the single free practice session, Caldwell headed into the qualifying session in good spirits but it was extremely difficult to put all the sectors together in a clean lap. Finally, the Briton clocked a lap time of 1m29.885s and lined up on row nine for both races.

Saturday’s Sprint race saw Caldwell gaining three places on the first lap before the safety car was deployed as a result of Juri Vips spinning out. When the safety car peeled back into the pit lane, Caldwell moved past Cem Bolukbasi. In clean air, Caldwell scored his fastest lap of 1m36.920s and lowered to 1m36.867s two laps later. In the closing stages of the Sprint race, Caldwell gained two positions and closed on Dennis Huger to take the checkered flag in 13^th place.

On Sunday, Caldwell made another remarkable getaway when the lights went out and overtook two cars. Unfortunately, Hauger collided into Caldwell and the Briton dropped to 20^th. He was forced to make a very early pit stop, as the safety car was deployed, to switch to new tires and a nose change. From then onwards, Caldwell focused on nursing his tires to make it to the finish. On lap 13, he was running in 8^th place and two laps later he moved up to sixth as frontrunners started to make their mandatory pit stops. Caldwell got in battle with Jack Doohan or Felipe Drugovich, among others, and was running in fourth place on lap 30. Unfortunately, with seven laps to go, Caldwell struggled with tire degradation due to tire wear and pitted a second time for fresh soft rubber. Caldwell clocked a fastest lap time of 1m34.720s and crossed the finish line in 14^th place.

The Round 5 of the calendar will take place next weekend in the narrows streets of Monaco.