Roman Staněk delivered his strongest performance yet in the F2 Championship at the 2025 Budapest Round at the Hungarian GP, claiming his maiden pole position and converting it into a valuable second-place finish in the Feature Race for Invicta Racing.
Teamwork behind the success
The weekend marked a significant breakthrough not only for the Czech driver but also for the Invicta Racing team, who have been steadily building momentum throughout the season. Following the race, Staněk was quick to credit the team’s collective effort for the standout result.
“Incredible weekend for the team,” he said. “I am really happy for them because they have been working hard, and my engineer has been doing a great job.”
The cohesion within the team appeared evident all weekend, with both Staněk and teammate Leonardo Fornaroli showing strong pace and strategic clarity at a circuit where execution is often key.
A first pole and strong race execution
Staněk’s weekend began with an impressive performance in Qualifying at the Hungarian GP, where he secured his first-ever pole position in F2. It was a milestone moment for the 21-year-old, who joined the series in 2023 and had been working tirelessly to establish himself among the front-runners.
Starting Sunday’s Feature Race from pole, Staněk led in the early stages but ultimately lost out on the win through the pit stop phase, as Fornaroli executed an effective undercut to take control of the race. Although a win slipped through his grasp, Staněk remained positive.
“Unfortunately, on Sunday we were not able to fight for the win,” he admitted. “Leo was just better and quicker and he did a better job I guess, but P2 is still a lot of points and we maximised what we could today.”
He reflected proudly on his pole, adding, “Also, with Qualifying, getting pole position—the first pole in F2 after two years—is a great feeling.”
Overcoming illness to maximise the result
Adding another layer of difficulty to his weekend was Staněk’s health. The Invicta driver revealed that he had been dealing with illness throughout the event, including a high fever, which made his on-track performance all the more commendable.
“I was a bit scared about my health issues because obviously I had a high fever, but I managed to maximise the best out of the weekend,” he said.
Despite the setback, he remained focused under pressure, holding off a late-race challenge from Jak Crawford to secure second place and a crucial haul of points for the championship standings.
With his first pole and podium now secured, the Budapest round may prove to be a turning point in Staněk’s 2025 F2 campaign.
Co-Author: Karishma Persad
