Tsolov claims fourth victory of the season in Austria as Campos Racing retains championship lead
Campos Racing’s remarkable run of success in FIA Formula 2 continued this weekend at the Red Bull Ring, venue of the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Nikola Tsolov delivered a truly outstanding performance, particularly in Sunday’s Feature Race, producing a drive of the highest calibre. The Bulgarian was quick when it mattered, managed his race perfectly when required, and together with a flawless strategy from the Alzira-based team, secured a memorable victory in Spielberg. His teammate Noel León also achieved a significant milestone in his career, as the Mexican claimed his maiden FIA Formula 2 pole position at the Austrian circuit. He later added further points to his tally in Sunday’s race.
Friday’s Free Practice session already indicated that both Campos Racing drivers would be among the leading contenders throughout the weekend. Tsolov topped the timesheets with a lap of 1m17.048s in his Red Bull-liveried Formula 2 car, while León was close behind in fourth place thanks to a 1m17.344s effort. Similar names featured prominently in the afternoon’s qualifying session, with both Campos Racing drivers immediately establishing themselves among the frontrunners. In the closing stages, León stunned the field by posting a lap of 1m15.544s that none of his rivals could match. It secured his first pole position in FIA Formula 2, along with the two bonus points awarded for the achievement. Tsolov narrowly missed out on a front-row start, qualifying third with a time of 1m15.730s.
Saturday’s Sprint Race took place at midday over 28 laps, with track temperatures approaching 60 degrees Celsius and numerous strategic variables in play. Starting eighth and tenth respectively on the reverse-grid order, Tsolov and León faced a challenging opening lap. That challenge quickly materialised. At Turn 3, Tsolov was struck from behind, triggering a chain reaction that eliminated two cars and dropped the Bulgarian down the order. With the Safety Car deployed, León was running seventh while Tsolov found himself outside the top 15. Racing resumed on lap four with the leading group tightly packed together. Tsolov became one of the race’s standout performers as he launched an impressive recovery drive, overtaking rival after rival to finish eighth at the chequered flag, two places ahead of León in tenth.
Sunday’s Feature Race represented the ultimate challenge: 40 laps and the need to execute the correct strategy. Starting near the front, both Campos Racing drivers opted for the supersoft tyre compound. When the lights went out, Tsolov made a superb start, overtaking Alex Dunne in the opening metres and then moving ahead of León shortly afterwards. Following a three-lap Safety Car period, racing resumed with Tsolov leading the way. Setting the fastest lap at that stage, the Bulgarian began to open a small gap while León made his mandatory pit stop on lap six. One lap later, Tsolov pitted from the lead to switch onto the soft compound. After the pit stop sequence, Tsolov emerged as the virtual race leader, although Alex Dunne remained a significant threat. With a long race still ahead, tyre management was critical, but some of his rivals chose a more aggressive approach. Dunne moved ahead of Tsolov on lap 13, yet the Campos Racing driver remained calm and patient before launching his response. That moment arrived on lap 25, fifteen laps from the finish, when Dunne ran slightly wide onto the main straight and Tsolov seized the opportunity to retake the lead under braking at the end of the straight. From that point onwards, Tsolov’s race management was impeccable. All that remained was for those ahead on alternate strategies to complete their pit stops. By lap 31 he had moved into the effective race lead and gradually increased his advantage over Gabriele Minì. At the chequered flag, the Bulgarian crossed the line almost four seconds clear of the Italian to secure his fourth victory of the season. León, involved in several thrilling battles throughout much of the race, finished eighth.
After six rounds of the 2026 campaign, Tsolov sits second in the Drivers’ Championship with 106 points, just two behind leader Gabriele Minì. León retains fifth place with 60 points. In the Teams’ Championship, Campos Racing continues to lead the way with 166 points, holding a 30-point advantage over its closest rival.
There will be little time to rest before the next round, as the championship heads across the English Channel to Silverstone next weekend.
Nikola Tsolov (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 2): "It was another exciting weekend here in Austria, and it ended with a Feature Race victory. We have now won half of the Feature Races held so far this season, which is a great achievement. We are just two points away from the championship lead, which is very encouraging. Taking a win at the Red Bull Ring, effectively our home race, makes it even more special, so I couldn't be happier. Now I'm looking forward to Silverstone and continuing to build on this momentum."
