Noel León produced a milestone moment for Mexican motorsport after becoming the first driver from Mexico to win in FIA Formula 2 during an entertaining Sprint Race in Montreal. The Campos Racing driver delivered a calm yet aggressive performance to secure his maiden victory in the category, while also strengthening his position in an increasingly competitive championship fight.
The success represented another major step forward in León’s promising rookie F2 campaign. Moreover, it reinforced the growing belief inside Campos Racing that the Mexican driver can consistently challenge near the front of the field during the remainder of the season. After an impressive weekend in Canada, León now heads towards Monaco with confidence and momentum firmly on his side.
León reflects on a dream Formula 2 breakthrough in Montreal
Speaking to Formula 2, León described the Montreal triumph as one of the most emotional moments of his racing career so far, particularly because it marked a historic achievement for Mexican drivers in Formula 2.
“It was great to get my first win in Montreal. Getting the win in America as a Mexican driver was great. I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time.”
The victory also rewarded months of preparation and adaptation as León continues adjusting to the demands of Formula 2. Throughout the opening phase of the campaign, Campos Racing consistently provided him with a competitive car, and the Mexican driver acknowledged the effort from every member of the team.
“I’m incredibly thankful with the team for the amazing job they’ve been doing to give us a fast car. I’m extremely happy with the weekend and with the win.”
As a result, León has now placed himself firmly in contention near the top end of the standings, while also establishing himself as one of the category’s most exciting young talents.
Smart decision-making proves crucial
While the result itself grabbed headlines, León’s racecraft throughout the Sprint Race proved equally impressive. His battle with Gabriele Minì became one of the defining moments of the race as both drivers pushed hard at the front of the field.
“It was a pretty good battle with Mini, to be honest. I was able to catch him a tiny bit before the Safety Car, then on the restart I was able to stay pretty close with them.”
León carefully managed the situation before spotting the perfect moment to make his move for the lead. Importantly, he understood that track position would become vital if another Safety Car interrupted the race. After completing the overtake, León immediately focused on producing a clean restart to prevent any counterattack from behind.
“We created a gap to P3 and as soon as I saw there was a chance of a safety car, I overtook him because I knew that the restart would be key to make a gap and go forward with the race. After that I managed to do a very good restart. Yeah, I created a gap on the first lap without the array, so I knew that I was able to win the race because of that restart.”
Consequently, the Campos Racing driver controlled the closing stages brilliantly and converted the opportunity into a historic maiden Formula 2 victory.
Montreal delivers a memorable Formula 2 experience for León
Beyond the race result itself, the Canadian Grand Prix venue left a strong impression on León during his first experience racing in Montreal. The challenging circuit layout and energetic atmosphere combined to create one of the standout weekends of his season.
“I really enjoyed driving in Montreal, to be honest. It was a very nice track. And now that I have my first win in Formula 2 in that track, it’s going to be even more special for me.”
In addition, León appreciated the passionate support from Mexican fans who travelled to Canada and created a welcoming environment throughout the weekend. That support added extra meaning to an already memorable occasion and highlighted León’s growing popularity among motorsport supporters across North America.
“So, yeah, pretty happy that we went to there. Yeah, it was a great atmosphere as well. A lot of fans and a lot of support from the Mexicans as well.”
León reflects on strong relationship with Campos Racing
A key factor behind León’s encouraging start to the season has been the positive relationship he has developed with Campos Racing. From the beginning of the campaign, both driver and team appeared comfortable working together, and that connection continues to strengthen with every race weekend.
“I feel very comfortable working with the team, to be honest. It’s been a very good first part of the season.”
León also emphasised that the victory in Montreal has only increased the motivation inside the garage as the team continues chasing more strong results.
“We are more than ever motivated to keep going, to keep working and keeping delivering results.”
At the same time, the Mexican driver made sure to thank everyone involved for helping him settle quickly into the team environment.
“So yeah, really looking forward to it. I’m extremely thankful with them for all the hard work and for the warm welcome.”
That strong level of trust between León and Campos Racing could become increasingly important as the championship battle intensifies over the coming months.
Monaco presents the next opportunity
After celebrating his breakthrough success in Montreal, León now turns his attention towards Monaco, one of the most demanding and prestigious circuits on the Formula 2 calendar. With another street circuit approaching, the Mexican driver believes both he and Campos Racing can remain competitive.
“The most important thing now is to be on the points on both races, to be honest. We are in a great position. We are very close to top 3 in the championship.”
Although Gabriele Minì increased his advantage in the standings after Montreal, León remains calm about the championship situation and understands how quickly momentum can shift in Formula 2. However, rather than focusing heavily on the standings, León intends to concentrate on consistency and maximising every opportunity available across both races each weekend.
“Minì created a bit of a gap this weekend, but we know that in Formula 2 you can never get secure a gap. So, yeah, it will change every race, the gap. We’ll try to maximise our things and the rest will come to us.”
Importantly, Monaco’s unique characteristics give León further confidence heading into the next round. However, before preparations fully begin, however, León plans to briefly enjoy the significance of his breakthrough Formula 2 victory.
“For Monaco, we look and I feel very strong. Street circuit again, Monaco has always been good to me and to the team, so I’m very looking forward. Today we are going to have some rest before starting preparing Monaco.”
With confidence growing, momentum building and a historic first victory now secured, León arrives in Monaco determined to continue his rise as one of Formula 2’s standout performers this season.
