Rafael Câmara arrived in Spain for the 2026 Barcelona F2 Round looking to reset after two difficult rounds in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, but the Brazilian insisted his approach had not changed.
The Invicta Racing driver had shown strong pace across the opening part of the season, yet recent weekends had not delivered the results he had hoped for. Despite this, ahead of the Barcelona Round, Câmara remains calm about the bigger picture, pointing to the progress he felt he and the team had continued to make.
Speaking to the media, including Pit Debrief, on Thursday, Câmara reflected on the lessons from recent races, his growing relationship with Invicta Racing, and why Barcelona could offer another opportunity to build momentum.
Câmara not changing approach after difficult rounds
Despite the opening two weekends having not gone his way, Câmara does not believe that he needs a major shift in his mindset ahead of the 2026 Barcelona F2 Round. While the results have not been ideal, he believes there are still enough positives to take from them. The Brazilian explained that the difficult moments had not changed how he and Invicta Racing approached the weekend. Instead, he feels that the focus has to stay on the same process that has helped them become stronger since the start of the season.
For Câmara, the early part of the championship also offered important lessons. He admitted that some mistakes had come from his side, but viewed them as useful experience rather than something that would damage his confidence.
“Yeah, last two races weren’t ideal for us, but I think there were a lot of positives, and I think it doesn’t really change our approach for Barcelona. I think we just keep doing our things. I feel like every time we’re just getting stronger. Also, with some stuff, there were a bit of mistakes on my side, but a lot of good experience for the future.”
“So just focus on our side, doing our things, and eventually there will be some good results, and for sure we’re going to be fighting out there. Still a very long way for the championship, so everything can happen. Still, in a way, quite tight. But yeah, wasn’t the best weekend so far, but a lot of positives, and I feel confident to start a good weekend here in Barcelona.”
European leg brings no change in mindset
Despite F2 having moves into the European phase of the 2026 calendar after rounds in Australia and North America, Câmara’s outlook has not been affected by the change of location. Rather than treating the European run as a separate chapter, he wants to keep the same approach from one race weekend to the next.
The Brazilian also explained that he believes that the key to success in F2 is to remain focused on what he and the team can control. With the championship still at an early stage, he believes that every round has to be treated as another chance to maximise the team’s package and place himself in a strong position.
Câmara also pointed to the importance of maintaining momentum. Even when results had not fully gone his way, he believed the overall direction had remained positive, and that gave Câmara confidence heading into the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya GP weekend.
“Yeah, pretty similar as well. It doesn’t change much. We just keep focussing on ourselves, trying to do the best we can. And yeah, I think every round you just try to play it in the best way and then be in a good position. It looks like, so far, everything has been good. So just keeping that momentum and doing things well.”
Lessons from a disappointing Feature Race in Monaco
Although Câmara’s Monaco weekend had looked promising after a strong Qualifying performance, it ultimately ended in disappointment after he crashed in the Feature Race. Despite the frustration of losing a potential result, however, he has not found it too difficult to move on from the weekend.
The Invicta Racing driver explained that he still felt calm about the way the weekend had unfolded, as he believes he had done a strong job before the race slipped away. He also feels that the decisive moment had come earlier than the final loss of position, which made the outcome easier to understand.
Rather than dwelling on what had gone wrong, Câmara prefers to take the experience forward. He sees the Monaco disappointment as another learning point in his rookie F2 season and arrived in Barcelona eager to start again.
“Yeah, to be honest, it was quite OK. In a way, it was a very tricky outlap for everyone. And at the moment, just feeling that I did a very good job before. So it was, in a way, quite calm, that everything was under control. But then, by not pushing on the outlap, in the end, it paid off. And then, by the time that Nico [Varrone] was right behind me, it was just time to basically give up the position because the mistake was way before.”
“So, yeah, I think it was a good thing for the future experience thing. And we keep focussing on the positive things that were from the weekend. And then just now for Barcelona, coming here, very excited to start again. Fast qualifying has been very good, so can’t wait to start again and see what we can do this weekend.”
Positive atmosphere helping Câmara settle in at Invicta Racing
Câmara also praised the environment within Invicta Racing, saying the relationship with the team had been positive from the beginning. He explained that the foundation had already started to form during post-season running in Abu Dhabi, giving him confidence before the campaign even began. Since then, the relationship has continued to grow with each race weekend. Therefore, as he gains more experience in F2, Câmara believes the team has also learned more about how to get the best out of him and how to keep improving together.
The Brazilian also highlighted his working relationship with teammate Joshua Dürksen. He feels that the atmosphere inside Invicta Racing is well aligned, allowing everyone to move in the same direction despite the challenges of a competitive rookie season.
“Yeah, it’s been very good. The team has been very positive since the beginning of the season already. I mean, already in Abu Dhabi, I was feeling very good with them. And yeah, now just putting the work together. Every weekend, I think we’re getting to know each other better and improving as a team. So yeah, so far, so good.”
“And we just keep in this good trend, positive. Also, it’s been very nice to work with Joshua [Dürksen]. The team is in a very nice place. I think everyone is very well aligned. So I think we just need to keep working together. And for sure, we’re going to keep just getting better and better, stronger and stronger, and it’ll be good.”
Small details could make the difference for Câmara at the 2026 Barcelona F2 Round
Asked by Pit Debrief where drivers could make the biggest difference at a circuit where everyone had plenty of experience, Câmara pointed to Qualifying and overall execution. With Barcelona being a familiar venue for the grid, he expects the margins to be extremely small.
The Brazilian said that when everyone has clear reference points, the difference often comes from the details. That means that drivers have to focus on extracting everything from the car when it matters, especially in Qualifying, where track position could shape the rest of the weekend.
At the same time, Câmara stressed that the mentality should not change too much. If the result is not where he wants it to be, he believes that the important thing is to understand where improvement can come from and keep building for the next opportunity.
“Yeah, sure. It’s a track that everyone knows very well. And quali is always there on the details because it’s very close. But in the end, I think, like I said before, just really focus on what you can do at your best. If it’s not enough for the quali or if you’re not in the position where you want it, we just look at where we can improve for the next race and see what we can do better.”
“But yeah, I think the mentality is very similar to all the other races. Just focus on good things and try to get the best results as possible in the moment.”
Câmara relishing return to a familiar circuit
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a circuit Câmara knows well, and he described it as one he has always enjoyed driving. The track’s familiarity across the field made the challenge even greater, as most drivers arrived with strong knowledge of the layout and plenty of previous running.
For Câmara, that could create a particularly interesting Qualifying battle at the 2026 Barcelona F2 Round. With everyone close on experience and reference points, he expects small differences in execution to play a major role across the weekend.
He also pointed to the race challenge at Barcelona, especially when it came to tyre management. The Brazilian described the circuit as a complete test, requiring both speed over one lap and discipline over a race distance. He also looked back fondly on previous memories at the venue, including winning a success at in a regional series.
“Yeah, it’s a very nice track here. Always enjoy the driving here. I think also, by being very close to everyone, it makes it more interesting in qualifying as well. And yeah, it’s always fun here. Also in the races, it’s not an easy race with the tyres. You really need to take care of them.”
“So I think it’s a track, in a way, quite complete. And a track everyone knows very well, so it makes things even more, in a way, tight. Yeah, and a memory that has been very good here, I think it was in the regional when I won the championship. Also last year, it was very good that we got the win. But yeah, I would say that winning the championship here was very nice for me.”
Câmara says F2 is unpredictable for everyone
Câmara was also asked by Pit Debrief what people may underestimate about racing in Formula 2. The Brazilian admitted he was not sure there was one clear thing that fans did not understand about the championship.
Instead, he suggested that people already have a good idea of what makes the series so entertaining. From his perspective, the unpredictability of F2 is one of its strongest qualities, with races often changing quickly and results rarely feeling guaranteed. That uncertainty, Câmara said, made the championship enjoyable to follow. With so many things happening across a race weekend, he feels the series gives fans plenty to watch and makes it difficult to predict what would come next.
“I don’t really know, to be honest. I think they know quite well what is going on. It’s a fun series to watch, I think. A lot of things happen in the races. And yeah, I think it’s just a very enjoyable championship to watch because you don’t know what’s going to happen every weekend. So yeah, I don’t really know what to say that they don’t know about us.”
