Dino Beganovic is aiming to establish himself as a consistent front runner in the 2026 F2 season. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver has shown flashes of pace and is now focused on converting that speed into consistent results.
Since making his F3 debut in 2023, the Swedish driver has worked to refine key areas of his driving. He points to race management, tyre understanding, and lessons from his Ferrari Driver Academy role as central to his development.
Beganovic explained how those elements have shaped his approach, as he looks to convert growing experience into sustained performance across the season.
Weekend execution becomes key for Beganovic
Beganovic’s development ahead of the 2026 F2 season has been closely tied to his ability to adapt from Formula 3 to the demands of Formula 2. The transition required significant adjustment, particularly in how he approaches a race weekend. He identified weekend structure as a major area requiring development from his rookie season in F3.
“I think from when I stepped up to F3, there was definitely a lot of things that I had to work on in my rookie year in F3 as well that maybe are one of my stronger points now,” he stated.
Limited practice time fundamentally changed his approach. The compressed schedule forced rapid adaptation compared to junior categories.
“One of those is building a weekend in Formula 2 and Formula 3, but we only have one FP and then go straight into quali, which was a big change for me. You come from F4 or Regional where we have a lot of testing before, so building your weekend has been a big difference.”
“I’ve been improving and staying in control of what you’re doing and not getting lost in what others are doing or thinking. As well as that, race management has been again one of my stronger points this past season.”
Race and tyre management emerge as key strengths
Beganovic highlighted specific areas where progression showed most clearly. The combination of racecraft, race management, and tyre preservation became defining characteristics of his driving.
“Race management together with tyre management and racecraft. So it’s nice to see the progression but there are still things to learn and improve, but I definitely think it’s a good step from where it all started,” he acknowledged.
Those areas have become key to his development. “It’s important to understand what you are doing to the tyres and what the tyre needs and what the tyre doesn’t want. It sounds very simple, but it’s super complicated to understand. But once you have it, I think now I can go on baselines let’s say, which works for Formula 1 and Formula 2 which have a general way of managing them well,” he stated.
Experience brought wisdom beyond pure speed gains in Beganovic’s growth ahead of the 2026 F2 season. The knowledge accumulation proved as valuable as any performance increase.
“There are still many things you wish you knew then the way you know it now, but obviously everything can’t be like that and now I’m a lot older, and wiser, I have learned a lot more. So it’s not purely just about adding speed, but a lot is in knowledge of how everything is working.”
Ferrari Driver Academy role shapes Beganovic’s growth ahead of the 2026 F2 season
Another key factor in Beganovic’s growth ahead of the 2026 season has been his expanding role within the Ferrari Driver Academy. His simulator program involvement increased as he contributed to current car development.
“My role with Ferrari as well has changed quite a lot since it all started. I’m a big part of the simulator programme now in development of this year’s car and doing TPC programme a few times which I wasn’t doing back then.”
Driving F1 machinery evolved from dream to professional duty. While the privilege remains apparent, the focus shifted toward extracting maximum value from each opportunity.
“It was a dream to drive a Formula 1 car, but now it’s always a joy, a different joy, to drive a Formula 1 car and especially when it’s a Ferrari. To be a part of that is special and the role I have is very important, so I feel very, very privileged to be a part of it.”
That experience has also changed how he approaches his racing in F2. “But I want more and I know that to achieve that, I need to be in Formula 2 performing well. While there’s not exactly parallels with how you drive an F1 and F2 car, there are little technical parts you are able to apply in the right moment.”
Structured approach from F1 work strengthens communication and execution
Ferrari’s professional environment influenced how Beganovic approaches F2. The structural lessons from simulator work have become another key part of Beganovic’s growth ahead of the 2026 F2 season.
“This is what I’ve learned over time and that has gotten a lot better since I did my first FP1 and that I’ve learned a lot from the F1 in terms of structure.”
“For me, I need to be structured, but also for the team to be structured in such a way that they are at a very professional level, and that’s something I’ve taken and also developed when I’m in the simulator with my feedback of the car and how I speak to the engineers. That has gotten a lot better since when I started,” he stated.
Beganovic’s growth ahead of the 2026 F2 season shifts to smarter race execution
Beganovic distinguished between raw pace and intelligent application of speed. While natural talent remained constant, knowledge accumulation unlocked new dimensions.
“In the end, it’s mainly about having a lot more knowledge than when I started in F3. The speed is very tough to change, and the speed is there from the beginning. So I wouldn’t say I’m faster, but I’m definitely smarter and able to use it in different ways,” he concluded.
The 2026 F2 season began strongly for Beganovic with pole position at the Australian GP. He earned two points for topping Friday’s qualifying session. However, technical issues prevented him from converting that performance into strong results. His weekend woes continued, where he finished 20th in the Sprint Race and then retired from the Feature Race while in podium contention. The pace is evident, but turning it into consistent results will define his 2026 season.
