Latin American representation has continued to grow in Formula 2 (F2), showcasing the expanding opportunities available to drivers from the region.
Seven of the 22 drivers on the 2026 F2 grid represent Latin American nations, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay. Their growing presence has also translated into success on track, with Joshua Dürksen, Noel León, and Rafael Câmara claiming seven victories across the opening nine rounds of the 2026 F2 season.
While the route to the top has historically presented significant challenges, opportunities for drivers from the region have continued to expand in recent years. Throughout the season, drivers such as Rafael Villagómez, Nico Varrone, and Noel León have highlighted how improvements in karting, increased support, and a growing presence on the international stage have helped create a more accessible pathway to European single-seater series.
Villagómez on how the pathway is changing
Villagómez became the first Mexican driver to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2024, progressing to the series after racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2023. Now competing in his third F2 campaign with Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), Villagómez has been paired with Argentine teammate Varrone.
Asked by Pit Debrief about the changing opportunities for Latin American drivers in European single-seaters, Villagómez shared:
“Yeah, I think we’ve seen lately that gap being closing even more. I think back in the days or like a couple of years ago, that gap from Latin America to Europe was always pretty big, just because the culture or it all starts in karting and karting over there is, the facilities are less good in the competition, but lately that has been growing a lot.”
Beyond the improvement in the pathway itself, Villagómez continued by highlighting the importance of driving alongside another Latin American driver and the shared experiences that they share.
“So I’m very pleased to see only having Nico as a teammate, being from Argentina, I mean from Mexico, or you understand each other a little bit more because our home is pretty far away, our family is far away. And like a driver from Europe after a weekend, he goes back home with his family and it’s back to normal, you know, as us, we spend one full year away of home. So there’s these little bits that do make a difference. But yeah, I’m glad to see so many drivers from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay. So that’s pretty nice,” he said.
Support from home matters
Alongside the increasing numbers of Latin American drivers on the F2 grid, strong backing from their home countries has also played an important role in helping many reach the championship. For Varrone, the support he has received both financially and from fans has been significant in making his transition from sports car and endurance racing to F2 possible.
“Yes, I feel a lot of support from Argentina, and not only the people, but like, you know, a lot of, yeah, let’s say sponsorship, you know, in terms of sponsorship, you know, coming to F2, you need a lot of backing, you know, to kind of make this season happen. And that’s something that Argentina has been really, really nice with, you know, with me and a lot of people supporting me to do this change,” he said, before explaining how F2’s increased visibility compared to endurance racing has strengthened the support he receives from fans.
“For sure, there’s much more, I would say, it’s more public, you know, when you’re racing in F2 in the same weekend as F1, there’s much more going on and more people watching you. But luckily, I have a lot of good support and people trying to push me, you know, in this big change that I made in my career. So, yeah, on that side, compared to endurance racing, it’s such, I would say, the support is bigger because more people are aware of what you’re doing and they understand better what’s it’s all about, like F2 before F1, so people kind of watch it more, it has more followers. So, yeah, it’s the same as endurance, but just bigger and, yeah, a bigger amount of people that is watching.”
Representing Mexico
2026 marked another special year for Mexico as León became the second Mexican driver to compete in FIA Formula 2. The Campos Racing driver has so far secured a Feature Race win, two Sprint victories, a pole and a fastest lap.
Speaking after his maiden Sprint Race win at the 2026 F2 Montreal Round, León reflected on the new generation of Mexican drivers and the opportunities now available to them.
“I mean, I think so,” he began. “It’s great to have so many Mexican people now on their way to Formula 1 in the roads. Also with great opportunities that we were missing before. Now we have great drivers in a great team, so that makes it a little bit easy to show the potential of Mexico. Yeah, I’m very happy that today I got a win for my country.”
F2 made two unexpected stops in Miami and Montreal this season after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs. With the calendar typically including only European and Middle Eastern rounds, León noted the increased Mexican support in North America as he eyed a future F2 Mexico City round.
“Yeah, it’s always great to go to a racetrack and see a lot of Mexican flags and a lot of Mexican people around here. So yeah, also Latin American people in general to be honest. We can really feel the support. I’m very happy that today I make them proud. Yeah, for sure it will be a dream to race in Formula 2 in Mexico City. I was hoping that with the situation that we have, I was thinking that maybe we could go to Mexico, but at the end of the day we went to Miami and Montreal. Still great tracks and yeah, I really enjoyed it.”
