FIA Formula 2 title leads set for another intense battle in Baku
The 2026 season is entering its decisive stage with the trip to Azerbaijan this coming weekend, the venue for the penultimate-to-last round of the calendar. Campos Racing and its drivers head into the event firmly in contention for both titles, with Nikola Tsolov leading the Drivers’ Championship and the Alzira-based squad topping the Teams’ standings. León will once again play a key role in the latter, with the Mexican aiming to score as many points as possible while also continuing his climb up the Drivers’ classification.
Tsolov has 177 points to his name, giving him a seven-point advantage over his closest rival. The Bulgarian driver will be looking to put his difficult weekend in Madrid behind him and return to winning ways after claiming six victories so far this season. The Red Bull Junior Team member has won the Feature Races in Melbourne, Monaco, Spielberg and Silverstone, while he also took Sprint Race victories in Miami and Silverstone. In addition, he has scored two further podium finishes, both third places, in Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps, underlining his ability to perform at the highest level on a wide variety of circuits.
León is also enjoying an excellent season. Despite being a rookie in the category, the Mexican has already scored three victories and is, behind his teammate Tsolov, the driver with the second-highest number of wins in the championship. León currently sits fifth with 119 points, courtesy of Sprint Race victories in Montreal and Monaco and a Feature Race win at the Hungaroring. The Campos Racing driver made his credentials clear from his very first appearance in the category, finishing second at Albert Park. His most recent podium came at Monza, where he finished third, while he narrowly missed out on another rostrum finish in Madrid with fourth place.
Campos Racing has 296 points in the Teams’ Championship and holds a 36-point advantage over its closest rival. The Alzira-based squad therefore heads into the three Baku races aiming to consolidate its position at the top of the standings and continue scoring valuable points at this crucial stage of the season.
The Baku Street Circuit, located alongside the Caspian Sea and hosting the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix on the same weekend, has become one of the established venues on the FIA Formula 2 calendar. At the same time, it is one of the most technically demanding circuits on the schedule. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the capital’s street circuit is 6.003 kilometres long, making it the second-longest venue on the calendar behind Spa-Francorchamps. Its anti-clockwise layout also adds an extra physical challenge for the drivers.
Featuring no fewer than 20 corners, including several 90-degree turns, the circuit starts at Azadliq Square before passing some of Baku’s most iconic landmarks, including the Government House, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, one of the most recognisable structures in the Old City. The long main straight is the circuit’s primary overtaking opportunity, with enough space for as many as three cars to run side-by-side. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the extremely narrow Turn 8, which is just seven metres wide.
The characteristics of the circuit also make tyre and brake management particularly challenging. As in other high-speed venues, there are sections where both tyres and brakes can reach high temperatures, while temperatures can drop significantly in other parts of the lap, increasing the risk of locking the wheels under braking.
The schedule also features several important changes compared with a conventional race weekend. The event will comprise one Sprint Race and two Feature Races. In addition, due to Azerbaijan’s National Day celebrations, the entire event has been brought forward by one day compared with the usual schedule. Free Practice will take place on Thursday at 08:00, followed by the two qualifying sessions at 12:00 and 12:30 respectively. The Sprint Race will be held on Friday at 06:15, with the first Feature Race following at 12:15. The weekend will conclude with the second Feature Race on Saturday at 09:00. All times are Central European Time.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): “We arrive in Baku in a very positive position, but we are fully aware that there is still a lot of racing ahead of us and many points available. Nikola is leading the Drivers’ Championship and Campos Racing is at the top of the Teams’ standings, and our goal must be to defend both positions through hard work and maximum concentration. Baku is always a very demanding circuit and this year we will also have three races, so managing the weekend properly will be crucial. Noel is also having an outstanding season and we know that he can contribute a lot of points to the team while continuing to move up the Drivers’ standings. We have a great opportunity ahead of us, but we must approach every race with the same mindset: work hard, minimise mistakes and make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.”
