Formula 2 Action: Budapest Weekend Recap

The Formula 2 series reached an exciting climax before the summer break as the teams gathered in Budapest for the latest round of races. This weekend showcased remarkable performances, particularly from Leonardo Fornaroli, who celebrated a significant feature race victory, extending his lead in the championship standings. Meanwhile, Pepe Martí from Campos Racing claimed his third sprint race win of the season, further intensifying the competition among the top drivers.

Dominance of Fornaroli and Invicta Racing

The weekend proved to be a dominant one for Fornaroli and his Invicta Racing team. Although Luke Browning from Hitech secured the fastest time in practice, it was Roman Staněk of Invicta who clinched pole position on Friday, with Fornaroli right alongside him on the front row. In the sprint race, Martí narrowly outpaced Alex Dunne, winning by a mere 0.225 seconds. Fornaroli, however, showcased his skill during the feature race, where he managed to overcome a five-second penalty and finish ahead of his teammate Staněk.

Fornaroli’s Journey to Victory

This season marks Fornaroli’s inaugural year in Formula 2, where he has consistently scored points but had yet to claim a victory until recently. His performance at Silverstone broke the trend, as he secured his first sprint race win. Following that success, he added two more wins at both Spa and Budapest, highlighting his rapid progress in the sport.

Fornaroli’s victory at the Hungaroring was particularly noteworthy as it was his first time leading a feature race. Despite limited experience in such situations, the 20-year-old driver displayed remarkable composure. He closely followed his teammate Staněk during the initial phase of the race, and after Staněk pitted on lap 15, Fornaroli took advantage of his speed on soft tires. He emerged from the pit lane ahead of Staněk, who struggled to warm up his new medium tires effectively.

While Fornaroli faced some challenges, including inquiries into a virtual safety car breach and a pit lane speeding incident that resulted in a penalty, he maintained a strong lead throughout the race. He finished 2.152 seconds ahead of Staněk, marking a significant evolution in his racing capabilities.

Championship Standings

As a result of this weekend’s performance, Fornaroli increased his lead in the championship standings to 17 points, with four rounds left in the season. Although a second consecutive championship title remains a distant goal, Fornaroli’s strong start to the feature races places him in a good position to contend for the title.

Staněk’s Continued Strong Performance

While Fornaroli stole the spotlight, his teammate Staněk has also been enjoying a stellar season. The 21-year-old driver is experiencing his best campaign in his third year with Formula 2. His transition to Invicta Racing has proven beneficial, particularly highlighted by his impressive performances in the last four races.

After achieving podium finishes in sprint races at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, Staněk followed up with a feature race victory at Spa, then secured pole position at the Hungaroring, edging out Fornaroli by 0.146 seconds. He showcased his racing prowess by maintaining the lead at the start of the Sunday race, facing minimal threats until the pit stops began.

Although Staněk struggled to warm his tires effectively during the second stint, he managed to defend against Jak Crawford, allowing Fornaroli to extend his lead. This weekend’s result marked Staněk’s fourth consecutive podium finish, elevating him to eighth place in the drivers’ standings and reinforcing Invicta’s position at the top of the team championship. The team now holds a substantial 42-point lead over Campos Racing.

Solid Performances from Championship Rivals

While Fornaroli’s victory garnered headlines, the other drivers in the top five of the championship standings also had noteworthy weekends. Each of the closest competitors—Crawford, Richard Verschoor, Luke Browning, and Alex Dunne—scored points during the races, marking a stark contrast to their performances at Spa, where they failed to score at all.

DAMS’ Crawford showcased a particularly strong effort, finishing third in both races and accumulating a total of 21 points over the weekend. Hitech’s Browning and MP Motorsport’s Verschoor followed closely, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, in the feature race. However, Browning’s streak of non-scoring finishes in sprint races extended to four.

Despite only managing a ninth-place finish in the feature race, Dunne’s second-place finish in the sprint kept him within striking distance of the top four. Heading into the next round at Monza, only 30 points separate Dunne from Fornaroli, ensuring that the championship battle remains competitive.

Martí’s Sprint Race Triumph

Pepe Martí has emerged as a formidable contender this season, boasting three race victories—the same number as any other driver on the grid. Despite this success, he finds himself in sixth place in the championship standings, trailing Fornaroli by 57 points. All of Martí’s victories have come in sprint races, specifically in Jeddah, Spielberg, and now Budapest.

At the Hungaroring, Martí qualified in tenth position, which allowed him to start on pole for the sprint race. He executed a brilliant race, narrowly defeating Dunne by just 0.225 seconds to claim victory. However, his performance in the feature race did not match his sprint success, as he struggled to make significant progress due to the race control’s decision to initiate a rolling start because of damp track conditions.

Despite his ability to excel in sprint races, Martí’s lack of strong qualifying performances has hindered his ability to secure more points in feature races. He has not qualified in the top five this season, which is critical for improving his chances on Sundays. Although he leads the Campos team in the standings, Martí needs to convert his sprint race speed into feature race success to remain a contender in the championship.

Results and Standings Following the Budapest Weekend

After the completion of the tenth round at the Hungaroring, the results are as follows:

Results

• Qualifying:

  • Roman Staněk: 1:28.779
  • Leonardo Fornaroli: +0.146s
  • Jak Crawford: +0.173s

• Sprint Race (28 laps):

  • Pepe Martí: 46:29.807
  • Alex Dunne: +0.225s
  • Jak Crawford: +1.964s
• Feature Race (37 laps):
  • Leonardo Fornaroli: 1:00.13.630
  • Roman Staněk: +2.152s
  • Jak Crawford: +4.716s

Championship Standings

• Drivers:

  1. Leonardo Fornaroli: 154 points
  2. Jak Crawford: 137 points
  3. Richard Verschoor: 135 points
  4. Luke Browning: 125 points
  5. Alex Dunne: 124 points
  6. Pepe Martí: 97 points
  7. Arvid Lindblad: 92 points
  8. Roman Staněk: 77 points
  9. Sebastián Montoya: 72 points
  10. Victor Martins: 69 points
• Teams:
  1. Invicta Racing: 231 points
  2. Campos Racing: 189 points
  3. Hitech: 183 points
  4. DAMS: 163 points
  5. MP Motorsport: 158 points
  6. Rodin Motorsport: 127 points

With the summer break approaching, the teams and drivers will be looking to regroup and prepare for the next round at Monza, where the championship battle is expected to intensify. The dynamics of the competition remain unpredictable, making every race crucial as the season progresses.