Mari Boya heads into the 2026 FIA F2 round in Madrid excited by a second opportunity to race on home soil, although the PREMA Racing driver remains cautious about what he can achieve at the new Madring.
Boya has endured a difficult rookie season, scoring points on only three occasions so far. However, ninth in the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race and encouraging pace at Monza provided some signs of progress before F2’s first visit to Madrid.
The Spaniard has also invested significant time in preparation. He attended last month’s Formula 3 test at the circuit and completed two simulator sessions before the weekend, giving him several opportunities to study a layout that no F2 driver has raced on previously.
Boya relishing second 2026 F2 home round in Madrid
Madrid gives Boya his second Spanish event of the season following Barcelona earlier in the campaign. The opportunity to compete in front of family, friends and home supporters adds particular significance to the weekend, while the characteristics of Madring have also caught his attention.
Boya expects the length and complexity of the lap to make completing a clean Qualifying attempt particularly demanding, with combined braking zones and kerb usage among the areas drivers will need to manage.
“To be honest, it’s a huge privilege to have two rounds in my country,” he said to Formula 2. “It’s making it super special for me.
“Also because my family and friends are coming to watch. I feel a lot of support from them and also from the fans. I’m really excited to be racing again in Spain.
“It’s a super challenging track. Not super long, but in terms of corners, it has many corners where you can make a lot of difference. One of the trickiest things I think will be to close the lap because there are many corners so it’s difficult to get it right. Many combined braking zones, and kerbs that you need to use. So it’s super challenging. It will be cool and challenging in qualifying especially.”
Recent improvement gives Boya encouragement before Madrid
Boya arrives in Madrid after showing improved pace across the most recent rounds. His ninth-place finish in the Spa Feature Race marked his strongest result since Monaco, while Monza brought another encouraging weekend despite narrowly missing the top 10 in Qualifying.
The results have not transformed the wider picture of his season, but they have provided signs that Boya and PREMA are moving in a better direction. However, the Spaniard does not want to assume that a new circuit will automatically give him an opportunity to fight at the front.
Instead, he believes confidence in the car will remain essential around a demanding street-style layout where drivers need to commit close to the limits.
Boya unsure what to expect from 2026 F2 Madrid performance
Boya acknowledged that he might have approached a new circuit with greater optimism in previous seasons. His experience during 2026 has instead encouraged him to keep expectations measured until F2 completes its first laps at Madring.
The PREMA driver also admitted that street circuits, which he usually enjoys, have proved more difficult for him this season.
“Maybe if you asked me this question last year, I would tell you yes,” said Boya on fighting at the front this weekend. “But I also know what it’s like coming to a track with a new car and not being able to perform because of that. So tracks like this are super demanding.
“You also need the trust and the confidence from the car. Normally I really like street tracks and everything, but this year I discovered that I also suffer on them. I don’t know to be honest what to expect.
“But I am focused on myself. I have done the best job I could, came to the F3 test, gone twice to the simulator to prepare. I’m pushing myself a lot to be as prepared as possible and learning all the time.
“So let’s see, we will discover when we go on track what we have.”
Boya places emphasis on preparation for 2026 F2 Madrid
With no previous F2 race data available from Madring, Boya has concentrated on the elements he can control before the weekend begins.
His visit to the F3 test gave him an opportunity to observe the circuit in competitive single-seater conditions, while two simulator sessions allowed him to build familiarity with the layout before his first real-world F2 laps.
That preparation does not remove the uncertainty surrounding the weekend, particularly because F2 machinery will behave differently from the F3 cars he watched during testing. Nevertheless, Boya believes he has completed the necessary work and now wants to assess where PREMA stands once Practice begins.
His comments also reflect the approach he has taken following a difficult first portion of the season. Rather than setting a specific result before seeing the car’s performance, he wants to focus on his own driving and continue learning from each session.
Home victory remains special prospect for Boya in Madrid
Despite keeping his expectations under control, Boya admitted that winning in Madrid would carry considerable emotional significance.
He has already experienced the feeling of winning in Spain earlier in his career, and those memories mean he understands what celebrating in front of family, friends and his team can represent. Even so, he does not want that possibility to distort his expectations before the weekend begins.
“To be honest, I’m trying to have the expectations where I feel they need to be. But winning at home is something special, and when you had the taste before of it makes you want it even more because you know how special it is looking under the podium at all the family, friends and also together with the team.
“That you are working together is something really beautiful, and Barcelona that year is a race that I will never forget.”
The prospect therefore remains meaningful to Boya even if he approaches Madrid without making predictions about his ultimate position.
Boya seeks another step forward in 2026 F2 Madrid round
Madrid gives Boya another opportunity to build on the improvements he and PREMA have shown during the second half of the campaign. His season has produced only three points finishes, but Spa and Monza offered more encouraging signs before the championship moved to its newest venue.
The home setting adds another dimension, with Boya set to compete in front of family, friends and Spanish supporters for the second time this year. However, he remains focused on the practical challenge presented by a circuit he expects to place significant emphasis on Qualifying execution.
After attending the F3 test and completing two simulator sessions, Boya believes he has prepared as thoroughly as possible. He will now wait until F2 reaches the track before setting firmer expectations for the weekend, while acknowledging that a strong result — and particularly a home victory — would carry special significance.
