After a difficult start to his 2026 F2 campaign, Mari Boya finally left the 2026 F2 Miami GP with reasons to be optimistic. The PREMA Racing driver delivered an impressive recovery drive in the Feature Race, climbing from P16 to finish P7 in treacherous wet conditions. The Spaniard also secured valuable points for the Italian outfit, as the result marked Boya’s first top-10 finish of the season. It also provided a much-needed confidence boost after a difficult opening round in Australia.
Boya reflects on challenging wet conditions in 2026 F2 Miami GP
The Miami Feature Race presented drivers with one of the toughest tests of the season so far. Heavy rain and poor visibility created difficult conditions throughout the race, especially for the rookies making their first appearances in Formula 2 machinery in the wet. Despite the circumstances, Boya kept calm and gradually worked his way through the field as conditions evolved.
Reflecting on his race afterwards, the Spaniard explained that communication with PREMA Racing proved crucial throughout the event.
“To be honest, in these conditions it is always better to stay calm, as cold as possible, and also being in contact as much as possible with the team to work together and find the best at all times. The conditions at the beginning were super tricky, even visibility was quite poor on the straights, but the pace at the beginning wasn’t great.
“We did a step forward on the second set at the pit stop, we adapted pretty well and maximised everything that we had. In the end we finished in the top 10. But we have to focus on the basics, do the basic things right. Many times, we were missing this and sometimes performance was good, but from here on out, we can start to enjoy and to start going up.”
PREMA Racing entered the 2026 season with high expectations after its historic success in Formula 2 and Formula 3. However, both Boya and teammate Sebastián Montoya have endured a difficult opening phase compared to several rival rookie drivers. Miami, however, offered encouraging signs that the team may finally be moving in the right direction.
Miami result gives Boya confidence after difficult start to F2 season
Boya also highlighted how significant the performance was considering his lack of experience in wet-weather Formula 2 conditions.
Like many members of the 2026 rookie class, the Aston Martin Development Driver had never completed a wet F2 race weekend before the Miami GP. The 21 year-old admitted that several aspects of the race were new to him. This included the standing start procedures in wet conditions.
“I’m satisfied because it’s also my first time in an F2 car in the rain. Many things were new — standing start in the wet, which was pretty good, I gained many positions at the start, so everything was positive. I’m also proud of the team, because we are not in the best moment, but the season is long. Even last year in F3 it wasn’t easy at the beginning for me, but a result like this is a help for everyone.”
Boya’s comments reflect PREMA’s broader situation across Formula 2. While recent seasons have proved tough for the Italian outfit, they have historically slowly bounced back as a season progresses. Better results often arrive after the opening rounds, once drivers and engineers fully understand the car package, which Boya similarly experienced during his Formula 3 campaign. After a difficult start to the season, his stronger results came later in the year.
Boya targeting more progress for Montreal F2 Round
Attention now turns to the next round of the championship in Montreal at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Similar to Miami, the Canadian venue will represent another new challenge for several drivers on the Formula 2 grid. With limited data available and no prior experience at the circuit for everybody, preparation away from the track will be especially important.
Boya says he will continue working extensively with both PREMA Racing and Aston Martin ahead of the Canadian GP weekend as he looks to build on the momentum generated in Miami.
“I will follow up with the team as always, work as much as I can. I know that I need to go to Aston Martin again to prepare for Montreal.”
He continued: “I will go to PREMA as well, analyse everything properly, especially the dry performance. We need to fine tune the last bits and prepare in Montreal as much as possible. I said before coming here, I wanted to learn and be satisfied with myself, learning from the things that weren’t that great in Australia, so Montreal will be about taking lessons from here and Australia.
“Here, I finish the weekend satisfied, even if the pace is not at the level I would love to have at the moment, but if we keep working like this together, it will come.”
For Boya, the 2026 Miami GP may prove to be an important turning point in his rookie F2 season. While PREMA Racing still faces work to return to the front consistently, the Spaniard’s comeback drive showed that progress is beginning to emerge at a crucial stage of the championship.
