Oliver Goethe believes his maiden Formula 2 podium at the 2026 Austrian GP showed what he can achieve when he maximises his pace across a race weekend.
The MP Motorsport driver finished third in Sunday’s Feature Race at the Red Bull Ring, completing a double podium for the team behind runner-up Gabriele Minì. Nikola Tsolov claimed the victory for Campos Racing.
Goethe’s result completed a significant turnaround after his Sprint Race ended on the opening lap. He became caught in the multi-car incident at Turn 3 and retired after another car sent him into a spin.
Speaking to the media after the Feature Race, including Pit Debrief, Goethe admitted that he felt his first podium had taken longer to arrive than it should have.
“Yeah, it feels good. I mean, it’s about time. I feel like I definitely had moments where I should have been on the podium before, but, yeah, it feels good to finally be here. Better late than never.”
“It was a good race. We executed the strategy well. Yeah, I’m happy.”
Alternative strategy creates late opportunity
Goethe started the F2 Feature Race at the Austrian GP on the prime tyre while several of the leading drivers began on the supersoft.
The strategy required him to extend his opening stint before switching to the faster tyre for the closing stages. However, the high temperatures placed his opening set under increasing pressure as the race progressed.
Goethe eventually stopped during the final 10 laps, ending the mandatory pit-stop phase and returning to the circuit on fresh supersoft tyres. He then used his tyre advantage to join the battle for the final podium position.
“I mean, when you start the race on the prime tyre, often you struggle a bit with the pace compared to the guys that pit on lap eight.”
“I was really pushing the limit out of the tyre. I was dropping off quite a lot, which is why we pitted for the option tyre, let’s say, a tiny bit earlier than expected.”
“But in the end, the supersoft held on well and I managed to overtake a few cars in front.”
Goethe trusts his judgement after the VSC
A Virtual Safety Car interrupted the F2 Feature Race at the Austrian GP, after Mari Boya stopped between Turns 3 and 4.
Once racing resumed, MP Motorsport initially wanted Goethe to remain on track for one more lap. However, the German chose to enter the pit lane immediately after feeling the grip disappear from his worn tyres.
When asked by Pit Debrief what gave him the confidence to trust his own judgement over the initial instruction from the team, Goethe explained that the VSC had made his tyres increasingly difficult to control.
“Yeah, I think I’m happy with the choice I made because I was starting to really struggle with the tyre after the Virtual Safety Car.”
“When there’s a lot of wear on the tyre and there’s a Virtual Safety Car, it’s often tricky to get back into the rhythm with less grip. So, yeah, as soon as you start to slide a bit, you overheat the tyre.”
“And I think it was just safer to go one lap earlier, to not lose more positions and not have to overtake more cars later in the race after I pitted.”
“So, in the end, the supersoft lasted to the end, and I think it was the right call.”
The decision limited the amount of time Goethe lost on his fading opening set and gave him enough laps to use the supersoft tyre’s performance.
Patience pays off in podium battle
Goethe returned to the track behind a group fighting for third place.
Rafael Câmara and Alexander Dunne battled closely while Joshua Dürksen and Goethe joined them, creating a four-car contest for the final podium position. Goethe used his fresher tyres to move through the group and take third.
Despite holding a significant tyre advantage, he avoided forcing an immediate move. Goethe waited while the drivers ahead fought each other before attacking under braking and on corner exit.
“Ideally, I would have liked to pass them sooner because, for a couple of laps, they were really battling hard.”
“I didn’t want to take any risk. I knew I had an advantage with the tyre, so I didn’t want to destroy my tyres by trying to do some extreme stuff as well.”
“So I just kind of stayed behind and waited for the opportunity to get them under braking and on traction. So, yeah, I’m glad with the job I did.”
MP Motorsport covers both strategy options
MP Motorsport split its tyre strategies for the F2 Austrian GP Feature Race, between Goethe and Minì.
Minì followed the conventional approach, starting on the supersoft before changing to the soft tyre. Goethe chose the alternative strategy, giving the team greater protection against different Safety Car scenarios.
The approach ultimately placed both drivers on the podium, with Minì finishing second and Goethe following him home in third.
“I think, for me, I decided to go for this strategy. Like Gabriele said, of course there was a risk.”
“If there was an early Safety Car around lap six to lap 20, it would have put me at risk. But if there was a Safety Car on lap six or seven, I would have had to double-stack with Gabriele and probably lost quite a few positions that way.”
“So it’s definitely good to split the strategy. And, yeah, I feel like I executed it well.”
“There was still a car in front of me starting on the same strategy, and I managed to get him at the start. Then I could use my pace and clean air to be as close as possible when I did pit.”
“I think we executed that well.”
Goethe learns how to maximise results from Minì
Goethe has often shown strong pace during the opening half of the season but has not always converted it into points.
Minì has produced more consistent results and entered the Austrian weekend as the championship leader. Goethe believes watching his teammate extract strong finishes, even when MP Motorsport lacked its best pace, has helped him improve his own race execution.
When asked by Pit Debrief how working alongside Minì had aided his development, Goethe compared the Italian’s approach with that of his former teammate Richard Verschoor.
“Yeah, the atmosphere in the team is good. Probably better even after this weekend.”
“It’s nice to both be in the points because, in the previous races, I’ve, like I said, not maximised it the way Gabriele has.”
“That’s something I’ve learned from him. He’s really made the most out of his races. Even when the pace wasn’t fully there, he was staying out of trouble and making the right choices.”
“So Richard was also similar in that sense last year. Very quick in the races and very good at maximising what he had in the races.”
“So, yeah, it’s something I did today and I’m looking to continue doing.”
F2 Austrian GP weekend restores confidence for Goethe
Goethe’s podium came after a challenging opening half of the campaign in which his results had not consistently reflected his underlying speed.
Although he finally reached the podium in Austria, he did not consider the weekend perfect. He felt he had left more performance available in qualifying, while his Sprint Race ended through circumstances outside his control.
Nevertheless, Goethe’s F2 Austrian GP Feature Race performance demonstrated the potential within both the driver and the car.
“I think this weekend in general has definitely brought confidence in myself and in the team.”
“We’ve known that the potential has been there in previous races and the pace has been strong, but I think this weekend in particular was really good.”
“I wouldn’t even say it was the cleanest of weekends with what happened yesterday, and I think there was still more potential in qualifying.”
“So I’m really happy with the pace and potential. I just need to work on really maximising everything and being here more often.”
Goethe left Spielberg with his first F2 podium and a clearer understanding of how to convert speed into results.
His decision to pit, patience during the final battle and execution of the alternative strategy all showed the progress he has targeted. The next challenge will involve reproducing that complete performance more regularly.
