FIA Formula 2 (F2) CEO Bruno Michel reflected on an action-packed weekend in Baku that brought a different format, major swings in the Drivers’ Championship and an increasingly close battle between the leading teams.
With F2 the only support series competing at the Azerbaijan event, the Championship introduced an expanded schedule featuring two Qualifying sessions, a Sprint Race and two Feature Races. The additional action also proved significant in the title fight, with Rafael Câmara leaving Baku at the top of the standings while Nikola Tsolov and Alex Dunne remain firmly in contention with two rounds remaining.
Michel open to using expanded Baku format again
The altered format gave the F2 field three races across the weekend, increasing the amount of on-track action available to fans in Baku. Michel explained that the circumstances surrounding the F2 event in Baku made adding another race relatively straightforward and believes the weekend showed that the format could work again when enough track time is available.
“We wanted to do that because there was only Formula 2 as a support race here, and for the fans and for the promoter, it was good to be able to increase the number of races that we were having. It was easy to organize, too. This is a great track that the drivers really love. It’s very demanding and it’s very spectacular as well, and having three races here was good. I think we’ve shown that this format is working very well when there is enough track time to be able to do that. So, we’ll keep it in mind for the future.”
Rodin’s pace puts Dunne back into title contention
Michel highlighted Rodin Motorsport as one of the standout teams in Baku after Alex Dunne and Martinius Stenshorne showed strong pace in F2 Qualifying. He was particularly impressed by Dunne’s performance across the weekend, while also noting how difficult the event became for Tsolov after the Campos Racing driver arrived in Azerbaijan as the Championship leader.
“The whole weekend was very dramatic. Rodin was flying here in terms of performance. It was quite impressive what they did in Qualifying between Dunne and Stenshorne – 1-2, 2-1 – and they’ve done an absolutely fantastic job. Alex [Dunne] was just untouchable in the first Feature Race, and in the Sprint Race, he was very impressive, too. On the other hand, Nikola Tsolov, who arrived in Baku as a leader, had a very difficult day. And he had an even more complicated time after he picked up a grid penalty for the second Feature Race, having then to start from P11.”
Câmara, Tsolov and Dunne deliver dramatic Feature Race finale
Michel also pointed to Câmara’s strong weekend, particularly his performance in the second Feature Race. For the F2 CEO, the final race delivered exactly the kind of title fight the Championship wants to see, with Câmara, Tsolov and Dunne all battling at the front and eventually sharing the podium. He also acknowledged that Dunne’s mistakes proved costly despite the Rodin driver showing strong pace throughout the weekend.
“Rafael Câmara did better than Tsolov. He scored strong points in the first Feature Race, but he was in an even better form in Feature Race 2. That third race was everything you want to see in terms of motor racing. When you have three drivers fighting for the championship, fighting on track for the first three places and all of them on the podium… It was fantastic to watch! It’s a bit too bad for Alex, because a couple of mistakes cost him dearly. But he was there and he was extremely fast. He cut the line first and classified third. His great weekend in Baku means that he’s moved up to third and he’s closed in on the top 2 in the Standings, with two rounds to go.”
Câmara takes the Championship lead as Tsolov fights back
Looking at the final result of the F2 Baku weekend, Michel praised Câmara for doing what he needed to do and taking full advantage when the opportunity for victory came. At the same time, he highlighted Tsolov’s recovery from 11th on the grid, with the Campos Racing driver fighting back into second after a well-executed strategy and favourable Safety Car timing. Michel believes having the three leading title contenders finish so closely together provided an ideal setup for the final two rounds of the season.
“Rafael had a very strong race on Saturday, he did what he had to do, and he was handed the win, which takes him to the top of the Championship. In the meantime, Nikola did not give up. Starting from P11, he put his head down. Ultimately, together with his team, they had a good strategy and the VSC and Safety Car timing worked in their favor. In the end, he did a fantastic race to take P2. Seeing the three of them finishing within three seconds and seeing the top three of them on the podium is very, very, very exciting. It’s a great way to continue this season ahead of the next two events.”
Campos, Invicta and Rodin continue close teams’ fight
Michel also reflected on the strength of the teams involved in the title fight, with Campos Racing, Invicta Racing and Rodin Motorsport all showing competitive form. He praised Campos for its performances across F2 and Formula 3, while pointing to Invicta’s recent success in F2 as evidence of the team’s consistency at the front.
“Campos Racing has been showing what they can do in Formula 3 and now they’re up there in Formula 2 and they’re leading the Championship with two strong drivers. Invicta Racing has been winning in F2 the last two championships so it’s no surprise they’re up there as well. We know they’re good, and we know they’re a very solid team.”
Michel was equally impressed by Rodin’s progress in Baku. He noted that the team had already shown strong Qualifying pace during the season, but believes its race performance in Azerbaijan marked another step forward. He also emphasised the respectful nature of the competition between the teams and drivers, with the Championship now heading to Qatar and Abu Dhabi for its final two rounds.
“As for Rodin Motorsport, what they have achieved this week in Baku is really impressive, with both of their drivers. They’ve had the pace in Qualifying all season long. Now they found the pace during the races, too. It’s all done in a very competitive but very good spirit as well, which is the way F2 is. The teams are all fighting extremely competitively on the track. But everybody is respectful of the others and same thing for the drivers. There’s drama on the track but never outside the track and I think that’s really what we want to see in this Championship. We’re looking forward to being in Qatar and to be in Abu Dhabi for the end of this thriller.”
