FIA F2 title fight resumes at Monza
With autumn now just around the corner, the key stage of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season is also getting underway, with Campos Racing, Nikola Tsolov and Noel León determined to continue the successful run achieved in the previous rounds. The iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, a true temple of speed located in the heart of Lombardy, will host the tenth round of the calendar, with Nikola Tsolov and Noel León set to play a leading role at the wheel of Campos Racing’s two cars. The team from Alzira and its driver pairing will be aiming to maintain their strong momentum over the remainder of the campaign as they continue their title challenge.
With nine meetings completed and five more still to come, Campos Racing leads the Teams’ Championship with 261 points, 74 clear of its nearest rival. The figures achieved collectively by Tsolov and León speak for themselves: nine wins and a further three podium finishes between them, confirming the Campos Racing pairing as one of the most competitive on the grid.
Tsolov also heads the Drivers’ Championship with 167 points, giving the Bulgarian a 20-point advantage over his closest challenger. Racing under the colours of the Red Bull Junior Team, Tsolov claimed his first victory of the season at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, where he triumphed in Sunday’s race. He returned to the top step in Miami, this time in the Sprint Race, before taking another victory in Monaco, the most technical circuit on the calendar. He finished third on Saturday in Barcelona and then embarked on a run of three consecutive victories, beginning with the Feature Race at the Red Bull Ring and culminating in an imperious performance at Silverstone. His third-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps took his total podium tally for the season to eight.
León’s performances have been equally impressive. The Mexican made his debut in the category with a second-place finish in Australia and did not have to wait long for his maiden FIA F2 victory, which came in the Sprint Race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. He followed that up with another win in Monaco shortly afterwards. Street and semi-street circuits appear to suit his characteristics particularly well. León, who also has one pole position and three fastest laps to his name, had to wait until the Hungaroring, immediately before the summer break, to claim his first Feature Race victory. He will arrive at Monza with that success fresh in his mind, looking to carry that positive momentum into the second half of the season.
Monza, the true Tempio della velocità, was inaugurated in 1922 and has been the long-standing venue for the Italian Grand Prix, even predating the creation of Formula 1 itself. Some of the greatest legends of motorsport have raced on its asphalt, taking on the challenge of the exceptionally high speeds that have always been one of its defining characteristics.
As well as requiring a car configured with low aerodynamic downforce to maximise speed along the long straights and make the most of the slipstream, Monza demands excellent traction and a car that remains stable under braking. The braking zones bring an additional challenge, as the brakes can lose effectiveness during the long straights and locking up under heavy braking is an ever-present risk. The characteristically high kerbs add another layer of difficulty, as running aggressively over them can easily result in damage to the car.
Free Practice will get underway on Friday at 10:00, with qualifying scheduled for 14:55 that afternoon. The Sprint Race will take place on Saturday at 14:15, while the Feature Race will get underway on Sunday at 09:45. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): “We arrive in Monza after a summer break that has allowed us to recharge our batteries, but also to continue working ahead of this decisive part of the season. We are in a very good position in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships, but we know perfectly well that there is still a lot of work to do and that we cannot afford to relax. Nikola has had an outstanding first part of the season and Noel has also shown very important progress and pace, particularly with his victory at the Hungaroring before the break. Now we need to maintain this level of competitiveness, continuing to work as we always do with our drivers and engineers and, above all, avoiding mistakes. Monza is a very particular circuit, where the margins are small and every detail can make a difference. Our aim is to start this final phase strongly and continue scoring important points to keep our title ambitions alive in both championships.”
