Roman Staněk delivered a commanding performance during Friday’s F2 Qualifying session at the 2025 Hungarian GP, storming to his maiden F2 pole position. Leading a front-row lockout for Invicta Racing alongside teammate Leonardo Fornaroli, the Czech driver’s achievement capped off a stunning rise in form for the team as they head into the summer break leading both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.
Following his breakthrough Feature Race win last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Staněk’s pole at the Hungaroring further signals that he is now a serious contender in the title fight. Both he and Fornaroli spoke to media, including Pit Debrief, in the post-Qualifying press conference, reflecting on the strategic decisions, internal team dynamics, and mental fortitude that have contributed to their recent success.
A pole position three years in the making
After three seasons in the category, the 21-year-old finally secured his first pole position in F2—an achievement he admitted felt particularly special given the circumstances leading up to the session.
Speaking candidly about the emotional and physical challenges of the day, Staněk said: “It feels good. First pole in F2—it took me three years! I wasn’t expecting it after waking up this morning. I had some health issues, so I’m very happy. Happy for the team, for Leo, that we managed to do P1 and P2.”
Spa win builds confidence ahead of Hungarian challenge
Staněk’s F2 pole in Budapest comes on the heels of a pivotal weekend at Spa, where he inherited his first Feature Race victory after mastering tricky wet conditions.
Reflecting on how that result set the tone for this weekend, he noted the confidence boost it provided, even amid lingering health concerns: “Yeah, let’s see first tomorrow what the race conditions will be. It might rain on Sunday too. The rain in Spa was not too bad. For sure, it’s a luxury to start from P1—you don’t get the spray if it’s wet. We’ll take it race by race and do our best, just like today and in Spa.”
Continuity key to Invicta’s rise
The Czech driver’s recent success has also been a positive sign for his team. Invicta Racing, a team that has undergone several rebrandings over the years, owes much of its current success to the stability of its core personnel. Staněk credits this continuity as a major factor in their current dominance across qualifying and race trim:
“Well, I would love to know. No, but from the past, Invicta, although they have a different name before, but it’s always the same people, you know, for the ten years, for the last ten years. And I think that’s one of the reasons why it makes them so strong because they actually never change the people and the people, they work between each other very well. So that’s a very good point.”
“And also, they’ve been successful also in the last, actually throughout the whole of F2 since it’s been existing. So no, I am super happy that I can be with them because obviously they are the best. They won the championship last year.”
Beyond team consistency, Staněk was quick to highlight the crucial role played by his engineer, who has helped him develop into a more complete driver:
“And also, my engineer is a great teacher in a way that he explains me how to do stuff, you know, if there is some issue, because always you are not living at your perfect level. So, he always tries to show me and explain to me what’s better. So yeah, I’m very happy I can be with them.”
Mutual respect fuels productive team dynamic
In a category often defined by intra-team rivalries, Staněk and Fornaroli have cultivated a productive and respectful working relationship. The pair previously shared time at Trident, and that shared history has laid the groundwork for their collaboration in 2025.
“Since the beginning of the season we’ve worked really well. I’ve known Leo a long time, from Trident. He’s won the F3 Championship—I’ve learned a lot from him, and I think he’s learned a lot from me too. We’ve been working very hard on the simulator, outside and during race weekends.”
Staněk expanded on the dynamic with a touch of humour, highlighting the balance between competitiveness and cooperation:
“As I said before, I’ve known Leo for a long time now because we’ve both been at Trident. And yeah, obviously he has won the F3 championship so he’s one of the strongest out here. And we’ve been working very well together. I’ve learned a lot of stuff from him. And I think also it’s the other way around. We get along very well with each other.”
“So yeah, let’s see after Sunday. Maybe we’re going to crash and we’re not going to speak. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. Always on track when we were close to each other or we raced each other. We’ve been very respectful to each other. So yeah, I’m pleased that he’s my teammate.”
As the championship battle intensifies, this level of mutual respect may prove pivotal in sustaining Invicta’s momentum.
A pole for the fans
While staying mentally focused remains Staněk’s top priority, the growing fan support from the Czech Republic and beyond has not gone unnoticed. In F2 Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP, Czech flags dotted the grandstands, giving him extra motivation ahead of Sunday’s race.
“Yeah, obviously, you know, it’s great to have a base of fans back home. To be honest, I don’t look at it too much. Because sometimes in that section, in the comment section, you can find some bad stuff which can impact your mental health, actually, because there is people like this.”
“But yeah, in general, also here in Budapest, I’m very happy and proud that I did the pole here. I saw already today on Friday a lot of Czech Republic flags. So I’m just going to do my best on Sunday to make them happy and to try to make them hear finally the Czech anthem.”
Smart strategy pays off in Qualifying
Invicta’s decision to split strategies during F2 Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP played a key role in securing the 1–2 result. Fornaroli ran during a quieter phase of the session, while Staněk went out later to take advantage of improving track conditions. According to the Czech driver, the plan was shaped by close collaboration between driver and team.
“Obviously, it’s up to the communication between the team and myself. I always give my suggestion, and the team gives their suggestion. We find the best compromise.”
“Today I felt like it was good to go with the pack at the beginning. Then to wait in the middle when Leo was doing his first run. And then go towards the end also with the pack. I managed to get my warm-up very good. I had to overtake a little bit of people because they were going very slow.”
“In Qualifying it doesn’t really matter what strategy you do. You always want the tyres, especially on a track like this, to last one or two corners maximum. You always want to have a clear track in front of you and that’s the most important thing.”
This strategic clarity and flexibility reflect the high level of communication and understanding within the Invicta camp.
Tyre management crucial for Feature Race outcome
With high ambient temperatures forecast for the weekend and the Hungaroring’s abrasive surface, tyre degradation is set to play a central role in determining Sunday’s outcome. Staněk explained that the team had already begun preparing for this challenge during Free Practice.
“Yeah, already today in Free Practice we tried some consecutive laps and I think the direction is pretty clear where it’s going to go. Also, tomorrow is going to be the hottest day of the weekend. The track is quite aggressive on the tyres and from the past years we know that there is quite a lot of tyre degradation, so it’s going to be a key to manage it.”
“But so far, for us, it’s been quite okay in the last races. I improved a lot on my side to be able to handle the tyres in a better way because in F2 it’s very, very important. So yeah, I think we’re not going to see maybe too many overtakes as we saw in Spa. But it’s still going to be an interesting race because in the end, who saves the tyres the most will have the biggest pace advantage.”
In a championship where races are often decided in the final laps, Staněk’s improved tyre management skills could provide a vital edge.
Long-term work yielding results
The Czech driver was keen to emphasise that his recent performances are not the result of any drastic change, but rather the culmination of continuous effort, refinement, and teamwork throughout the season.
“I don’t think that it’s been something that I’ve changed. You know, always since the beginning of the season, you try to work as hard as you can, especially expecting the best in every session you can, working with the team. And sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, but you cannot give up. You just have to keep going because especially the F2 season is very long. You know, we have 14 rounds, which is great. But yeah, I find myself with the team very good and I think that’s why we are able to perform at the highest level of Formula 2.”
This dedication to process over outcome has clearly borne fruit, allowing him to remain resilient through the ups and downs of the campaign.
Delivering when it counts
When asked by Pit Debrief what ultimately made the difference in Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP, Staněk pointed to the fine margins that separate good sessions from great ones in modern F2.
“To be honest, it wasn’t very different from other Qualifying sessions—you always aim to perform your best. You know, because in the end, nowadays in Formula 2, we just have a couple of push laps with the tyres that are actually in the window. So, you have to put everything together and hope for a good lap time.”
Executing in the right moment, with the right balance of aggression and precision, proved crucial in delivering a career milestone. As Roman Staněk prepares to lead the field away in Sunday’s Feature Race, all eyes will be on whether he can convert this long-awaited pole into a second consecutive victory. With momentum, experience, and growing confidence on his side, the Invicta driver looks increasingly poised to mount a serious title challenge in the second half of the 2025 F2 season.
