News Summary
- Nikola Tsolov leads Rafael Câmara by 11 points in the F2 championship
- Câmara starts fifth and third in Baku’s two Feature Races
- Tsolov faces recovery drives from tenth and eighth on the respective grids
Nikola Tsolov extended his Formula 2 championship lead over Rafael Câmara to 11 points after the Baku Sprint Race, but the unusual Azerbaijan weekend still offers the Brazilian an immediate opportunity to respond.
Câmara entered the Sprint seven points behind Tsolov and appeared capable of reducing that deficit after climbing to fourth on the road. A ten-second penalty for causing an opening-lap collision with Mari Boya, however, dropped the Invicta driver to 16th.
Tsolov struggled with rear-tyre degradation and fell from pole to fifth, but still collected four points. The Campos driver now leads the championship with 181 points against Câmara’s 170.
Despite that setback, Câmara starts ahead of Tsolov in both remaining Baku races. With two Feature Races included in the special Formula 2 schedule, the title situation could change significantly before the championship leaves Azerbaijan.
Perfeito. Em todas as tabelas, os pilotos passam a aparecer com inicial + sobrenome em caixa alta: D. BEGANOVIC, R. CÂMARA, N. TSOLOV.
2026 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship
| Pos. | Driver | Team/Engine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. TSOLOV | Campos Racing | 181 |
| 2 | R. CÂMARA | Invicta Racing | 170 |
| 3 | G. MINÌ | MP Motorsport | 153 |
| 4 | A. DUNNE | Rodin Motorsport | 146 |
| 5 | N. LEÓN | Campos Racing | 119 |
| 6 | D. BEGANOVIC | DAMS Lucas Oil | 116 |
| 7 | J. DÜRKSEN | Invicta Racing | 90 |
| 8 | K. MAINI | ART Grand Prix | 89 |
| 9 | L. VAN HOEPEN | Trident | 80 |
| 10 | M. STENSHORNE | Rodin Motorsport | 75 |
| 11 | T. INTHRAPHUVASAK | ART Grand Prix | 71 |
| 12 | R. MIYATA | Hitech | 70 |
| 13 | J. BENNETT | Trident | 38 |
| 14 | R. VILLAGÓMEZ | Van Amersfoort Racing | 38 |
| 15 | O. GOETHE | MP Motorsport | 37 |
| 16 | E. FITTIPALDI JR. | AIX Racing | 30 |
| 17 | S. MONTOYA | Prema Racing | 30 |
| 18 | R. BILINSKI | DAMS Lucas Oil | 29 |
| 19 | C. HERTA | Hitech | 26 |
| 20 | N. VARRONE | Van Amersfoort Racing | 15 |
| 21 | M. BOYA | Prema Racing | 13 |
| 22 | C. SHIELDS | AIX Racing | 10 |
2026 Formula 2 Teams’ Championship
| Pos. | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campos Racing | 300 |
| 2 | Invicta Racing | 260 |
| 3 | Rodin Motorsport | 221 |
| 4 | MP Motorsport | 190 |
| 5 | ART Grand Prix | 162 |
| 6 | DAMS Lucas Oil | 145 |
| 7 | Trident | 118 |
| 8 | Hitech | 96 |
| 9 | Van Amersfoort Racing | 53 |
| 10 | Prema Racing | 43 |
Tsolov’s advantage over Câmara has increased by four points, while Gabriele Minì remains close enough to benefit from further problems for the leading pair.
Alexander Dunne moved to 146 points after charging from tenth to third in the Sprint. The Rodin driver is now 35 points behind Tsolov and starts the first Feature Race from pole.
Why Câmara still has a major Baku opportunity
Formula 2 is holding three races in Azerbaijan: one Sprint and two Feature Races. Each of the longer races uses a different qualifying classification, giving drivers two separate starting positions.
Câmara qualified fifth for Friday’s Feature Race and third for Saturday’s contest. Tsolov starts tenth and eighth respectively.
| Race | Rafael Câmara | Nikola Tsolov |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Race 1 | 5th | 10th |
| Feature Race 2 | 3rd | 8th |
That grid advantage gives Câmara a realistic opportunity to recover the points lost in the Sprint. A Feature Race victory is worth 25 points, while second place pays 18 and third awards 15. Each race also offers one additional point for the fastest lap, provided the driver finishes inside the top ten.
If Câmara converts his starting positions into podiums while Tsolov struggles to advance, the Brazilian could leave Baku back in the championship lead.
The situation is not straightforward, however. Câmara has now received ten-second penalties for causing collisions in consecutive Feature Race weekends, following his incident with Oliver Goethe in Madrid and the contact with Boya in Baku.
Tsolov faces pressure from behind
Tsolov’s fifth place in the Sprint limited the damage, but his race pace created concerns. After leading the opening laps, the Bulgarian reported that his rear tyres were finished and dropped behind Dino Beganovic, Laurens van Hoepen, Dunne and Câmara on the road.
The penalty returned Tsolov to fifth in the final classification, but his starting positions leave him vulnerable in both Feature Races.
From tenth in the first race, Tsolov must recover through a group containing Beganovic, Sebastián Montoya, Mari Boya, Câmara and pole-sitter Dunne. He begins the second contest from eighth, five places behind his title rival.
Baku’s long straight creates overtaking opportunities, but Safety Cars and tyre strategy can quickly alter the order. Tsolov’s objective will be to remain within reach of Câmara rather than expose himself to unnecessary risk.
Dunne returns to the title conversation
Dunne was one of the Sprint’s major winners. The Rodin driver gained seven places, finished third and reduced his championship deficit to 35 points.
He also holds the strongest combined grid position for the two Feature Races, starting first and second. Team-mate Martinius Stenshorne occupies the other front-row position in each contest.
Two victories would bring Dunne firmly into the championship battle, particularly if Tsolov and Câmara lose points against each other.
Minì remains third in the standings with 153 points but starts only 14th and 16th in the two races. His immediate task is limiting the damage while Dunne attacks from the front.
The first Feature Race begins on Friday at 11:00 UK time, with the second scheduled for Saturday. Full timings and starting-grid details are available in the Baku Formula 2 weekend guide.
Additional reporting: FIA Formula 2.
FAQ
Who leads the 2026 Formula 2 championship?
Nikola Tsolov leads with 181 points, 11 ahead of Rafael Câmara.
Where does Rafael Câmara start the Baku Feature Races?
Câmara starts fifth in the first Feature Race and third in the second.
Can Alexander Dunne still fight for the F2 title?
Yes. Dunne is 35 points behind Tsolov and starts the two remaining Baku races from first and second.
