FIA Formula 2 title battle continues on the streets of Monaco
The most intense phase of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season arrives alongside the summer temperatures that have swept across Europe in recent weeks. The second tier of the FIA single-seater ladder now heads to the Old Continent for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, in what is always one of the most special weekends of the year thanks to the history, magic and glamour surrounding the streets of the Principality. These weeks leading up to the August summer break are crucial in both the Drivers' and Teams' Championship battles, with no fewer than six events scheduled in less than two months.
But first things first. Campos Racing heads to Monaco with the highest ambitions following the outstanding level of competitiveness displayed by Nikola Tsolov and Noel León in the opening rounds of the season. In fact, were it not for a handful of unfortunate circumstances at key moments, the Alzira-based squad's results could have been even stronger. It should also not be overlooked that Campos Racing remains the only team to have won at every event so far this season, in Melbourne, Miami and Montreal.
Tsolov currently sits third in the Drivers' Championship thanks to his victories in Australia and the United States. In Canada, the Bulgarian Lion once again demonstrated his fighting spirit and, had it not been for a post-race penalty on Sunday, he would have completed a remarkable comeback drive. With 35 points to his name, Tsolov will be aiming to once again place his Red Bull Junior Team-liveried Formula 2 car on the podium. There is also an important statistic worth remembering: both the Bulgarian driver and Campos Racing triumphed in Monaco last year in the FIA Formula 3 Feature Race. Can they repeat the feat in the higher category?
León has enjoyed an impeccable rookie campaign in one of motorsport's most demanding championships. The Mexican made an immediate impact by securing a podium finish on his Formula 2 debut at Albert Park, where he finished second. After taking fourth place in Miami and setting the fastest lap in the other race, León opened his Formula 2 winning account in Montreal by claiming victory in Saturday's Sprint Race. As a result, he currently occupies fifth place in the championship standings with 33 points.
In the Teams' Championship, Campos Racing holds second position with a total of 68 points, just one point shy of the lead.
The Circuit de Monaco is the street circuit par excellence. First inaugurated 97 years ago, in 1929, its layout has remained almost unchanged throughout the decades, meaning that the essence of the track is still the same as when legends such as Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi, Louis Chiron and Rudolf Caracciola competed on its streets. Since 2015, the circuit has measured 3.337 kilometres in length and still features its iconic corners and landmarks that have remained virtually untouched for generations: Sainte Dévote, Mirabeau, Portier and La Rascasse, not forgetting the distinctive tunnel section. Present on the Formula 1 calendar since the inaugural 1950 season, Monaco has missed only one edition since 1955, the 2020 event, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As tradition dictates in Monaco, Free Practice will take place on Thursday at 15:00. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday and, owing to the difficulty of setting a clear flying lap without traffic, will once again be split into two sessions for odd and even-numbered cars at 15:10 and 15:34 respectively. The Sprint Race is set for Saturday at 14:15, while Sunday's Feature Race will get underway at 09:25. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "We are entering a crucial phase of the season as the championship arrives in Europe. We have a busy sequence of races ahead of us and it will be essential to score as many points as possible in order to head into the summer break in the strongest position we can. We have won at every circuit visited so far this season, so we arrive in Monaco with confidence. We know what it takes to win in the Principality and we have two extremely competitive drivers in both qualifying and race conditions, Nikola and Noel. We will give everything to leave Monaco satisfied with a job well done."
