Following the Formula 2 Sprint Race at the 2026 Barcelona GP, Gabriele Minì reflected on another podium finish after fighting his way through the field to secure second place, adding to his consistent run of strong results this season.
“It was a very good race, another podium, so it’s five in the last six races, which is very positive,” the Italian driver commented.
“Today was really what we needed. I got a good start, some really nice overtakes around the outside of Villagomez and Herta, and then with just strong pace we managed to overtake also Leon. We had a good tyre degradation, so it was better than the others.”
Tsolov vs Minì
After sharing a place in Alpine Academy in 2023, Minì and Nikola Tsolov have reunited at the sharp end of the grid in Formula 2.
Their parallel rise through the junior ranks has added nuance to their rivalry, built on mutual respect and years of shared experience.
“We have been always together in Alpine, quite a lot, I mean all three of us really, both me, Niko, and Kush, and so I know Nikola very well,” reflected Mini.
“We have not raced every year together […] so this is the first time we really have a direct fight for a championship. I know his strengths, he’s a really quick driver, we can see from his quali form. I also tknow his weaker points, so that’s what I have to try and in a way use my advantage.”
The Future of Alpine
Both Maini and Minì entered new surroundings this year, bringing renewed confidence.
Maini has openly described ART Grand Prix as feeling like “home,” while Minì has also adapted to the fresh environment this season.
Beyond outright pace, a strong relationship between driver and team can play a crucial role in unlocking performance, trust, and consistency over the course of a Championship campaign.
The Championship leader spoke about his past struggles and new beginnings.
“After a tough season like last year, I feel like we had to change the air a bit and change teams to try and have a shot at the championship. Of course, we struggled, we had our struggles, but we still never gave up. In a way, we always did our best,” said the Italian driver.
“The relationship with the team is really, really good, we’ve been working really well. The environment and the way of work is just really nice, and I feel like it’s really good for me in a way. Every driver has their own likings, and I find myself really well both with the engineers, and with the car setup in general.”
Consistency is Key
Consistency has become one of Minì’s defining strengths this season.
While race wins and podiums often grab the headlines, the Italian has quietly built his Championship challenge by scoring points in all but one race, demonstrating an ability to maximise every weekend regardless of the circumstances.
In a title fight where every point can prove decisive, that reliability has been just as valuable as outright speed.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s been a long streak. It’s a shame, of course, to have ended it in Monaco after running for so long in the top five. So, of course, a bit of a shame. But we’re back on the podium again.”
“As I mentioned before, it’s five out of the six last races, and the goal, of course, is to always try and score points. Of course, this doesn’t mean always ending in P10, but as I said, it’s maximising the results. I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing so far; when we could take the win, we took the win, when we could take the podium, we did that and […] every time we can score points, we have been doing that so that’s very positive.“
FIA Formula 2 returns to Austria from 26 June 2026 – 18 June 2026.
Featured Image Credits: Formula 2 on X