The streets of Monte Carlo were up bright and early for the FIA Formula 2 Feature race.
Rafael Câmara lined up on Pole alongside Nikola Tsolov on the front row, and Alex Dunne in third.
Lights Out
Câmara took a comfortable lead as the lights went out, with the Brazilian able to keep Tsolov at arms length.
Further down the order, battles intensified as drivers fought to recover lost ground.
Mari Boya attempted an ambitious move down the inside of Oliver Goethe, adding to the growing action within the midfield.
Martinius Stenshorne struggled off the line at the start, with the Norwegian losing several positions during the opening metres of the race. As the field settled, most drivers were committed to the Soft compound for their first stint.
Sebastián Montoya emerged as the leading driver on the alternate strategy, with his approach offering a different tactical dimension.
At the front, Câmara remained in control. Although Tsolov stayed within range, he could not find a way through.
By Lap 6, Câmara had extended his advantage to 1.2 seconds.
Strategies Come to Light
While the front runners stayed out, the rest of the grid began their mandatory pitstops, with Oliver Goethe and John Bennett leading this decision.
At the front, Gabriele Minì became the first frontrunner to switch to the Supersoft tyres, however a slow stop sent him down the grid.
One lap later, DAMS Lucas Oil responded by bringing in Roman Bilinski.
Montoya began his charge through the field, with the PREMA driver quickly discarding Minì, Bilinski and Noel León. His alternate strategy was beginning to pay dividends as others emerged from the pits.
On Lap 29, Dino Beganovic pitted from fourth position. Out on track, León locked up heavily into Sainte Devote. The mistake allowed Bilinski and Minì to close the gap significantly. As León struggled for tyre temperature, a train of cars quickly formed behind him.
Final Pits, Wins, and Heartbreaks
The battle for victory entered its final moments when Tsolov pitted on Lap 32. The Bulgarian was the first of the leading pair to blink. Behind them, Stenshorne rejoined in heavy traffic after his stop.
Invicta Racing immediately responded to Tsolov’s move, with Rafael Câmara diving into the pits one lap later.
However, the Brazilian struggled to bring his Supersoft tyres into the operating window. Running side-by-side into Sainte Devote, Câmara outbraked himself and escaped down the run-off area. The mistake proved costly, with Câmara unable to continue and retiring from the race. His stoppage triggered a brief Virtual Safety Car period.
Miyata encountered similar difficulties after switching onto the Supersoft tyres.
Boya received a five-second time penalty, whilst Colton Herta was later handed a 10-second penalty for a Virtual Safety Car infringement.
As the final lap began, Tsolov led Dunne and Kush Maini. However, carrying impressive grip out of the tunnel, Dino Beganovic successfully launched an attack for the final podium position into the chicane.
Out front, there was no denying Tsolov, as the Bulgarian controlled the closing stages and claimed another victory.
Results
Tsolov, once again, showed his brilliance on the track. Dunne crossed the line in second, with Beganovic completing the podium.
FIA Formula 2 returns to Barcelona from 12 June 2026 – 14 June 2026
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