Formula 2 returns in 2026 with 14 rounds and a grid full of fresh intent. Moreover, every weekend supports Formula 1, so drivers fight for visibility as much as points. Madrid debuts and adds a new question mark to a calendar packed with familiar pressure points. Meanwhile, the driver market reshuffles across the grid, and several rookies arrive with serious academy backing.
2026 Calendar and Key Changes
The 2026 calendar features 14 rounds over 13 countries. All races support F1, with familiar venues like Melbourne, Monaco, Silverstone and Monza. 2025’s Imola round is dropped with F2 adding Madrid in its place instead.
The season kicks off March 6–8 in Melbourne and ends Dec 4–6 in Abu Dhabi. Each weekend uses the standard F2 format: Friday qualifying, a Sprint Race (top 10 from qualifying reversed on Saturday), and a longer Feature Race on Sunday. The points system stays the same. Full Guide to the FIA F2 Championship rules and format.
Overall, the format and points remain unchanged from 2025. Teams will each run two cars, forming an 11-team grid for the 2026 season. The Sprint Race distance targets ~120 km (max 45 minutes) and the Feature Race ~170 km (max 60 minutes).
In short, nothing radical changes in the race format and the focus stays on driver performance and racecraft.
Teams and Drivers for 2026
Every F2 team has announced its 2026 roster. Several line-up changes and rookie entries inject excitement. Notably, Invicta Racing, the reigning Drivers’ and Teams’ champions signs 2025 F3 champion Rafael Câmara. Meanwhile, last year’s F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli has moved on to become a McLaren Formula 1 reserve driver.
Invicta Racing
In 2025 Invicta Racing defended their Formula 2 Teams’ Championship title, holding off all rivals as they clinched the crown again with strong combined driver results and consistency. Their 2025 roster included Leonardo Fornaroli, who won the Drivers’ Championship, and Roman Staněk, who scored podiums and contributed heavily to the team’s title push.
For 2026 Invicta Racing has a completely new driver lineup featuring Joshua Dürksen and Rafael Câmara as they chase another dominant season.
Joshua Dürksen moves to Invicta after spending his first two full F2 seasons elsewhere, including 2025 with AIX Racing where he finished ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and scored multiple podiums and wins.
Rafael Câmara steps up to Formula 2 for the first time after a dominant 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship, where he won multiple races and clinched the title before the final round. He is a member of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, which has supported his rapid development up the ranks. Before F3, Câmara won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine and scored podiums in other regional series, showcasing adaptability and race craft.
Together, Dürksen and Câmara form a balanced pairing that blends established F2 race experience with championship-winning momentum from the feeder series, setting Invicta up as one of the class favorites again in 2026.
Hitech
In 2025 Hitech finished second in the Formula 2 Teams Championship, proving they earned consistent results all season long and were one of the most competitive outfits on the grid. Their driver roster in 2025 included Luke Browning and Dino Beganović.
Now in 2026, Hitech enters the new campaign with Colton Herta and Ritomo Miyata as their race drivers.
Colton Herta is a standout American racer with nine IndyCar wins to his name and is widely respected for his raw speed in high-pressure situations. He spent the bulk of his career in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, where he became the youngest winner and secured multiple poles and podiums. In 2026, he balances his Hitech seat with duties as the Cadillac Formula 1 Team Test Driver, meaning he gains invaluable experience on Formula 1 weekends while working toward his ultimate goal of earning an F1 race seat.
Ritomo Miyata returns to Hitech for his third full season in Formula 2, having impressed with a strong showing in 2025 including a podium at Spa-Francorchamps. He is a Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge Program member and has built a decorated resume in Japanese motorsport, with titles in Super Formula Lights, Super Formula, and SUPER GT. Miyata’s experience and proven adaptability across categories give Hitech a steady, technically astute leader within the driver lineup.
Campos Racing
In 2025, Campos Racing finished third in the Formula 2 Teams’ Championship and consistently scored strong results throughout the year, solidifying their reputation as a top-tier F2 outfit.
Their 2025 driver pairing featured Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov, both of whom delivered flashes of outright pace and key points for the team throughout a challenging season.
Looking at 2026, Campos Racing has assembled a young but highly talented lineup, retaining one rising star and adding a promising new recruit to fight up the order in FIA Formula 2.
Nikola Tsolov will stay with Campos as he steps up to Formula 2 full-time after an impressive campaign in Formula 3, where he finished runner-up in the 2025 championship and set records with his win tally. He has also joined the Red Bull Junior Team, a clear sign that F1-level programs value his speed and maturity.
Noel León joins Campos Racing for his F2 debut in 2026, completing the team’s driver line-up in what promises to be an exciting rookie season. León arrives after two strong seasons in FIA Formula 3 where he scored multiple podiums and built momentum as a tough competitor on demanding circuits. He also won the Euroformula Open Championship in 2023 and earlier titles in United States Formula 4, establishing his pedigree across junior categories.
DAMS Lucas Oil
In 2025 DAMS Lucas Oil finished fourth in the Formula 2 Teams’ Championship. Moreover, the team delivered race wins and regular podiums, underlining strong execution across the season. Their 2025 lineup featured Jak Crawford and Kush Maini, a pairing that converted pace into points and victories.
For 2026 DAMS Lucas Oil confirms Dino Beganovic and Roman Bilinski as its driver pairing. Therefore, the team blends continuity with upward momentum.
Dino Beganovic enters his second full Formula 2 season with DAMS after racing for Hitech in 2025, where he showed consistent front running pace across the year. Previously, he made his Formula 2 debut with DAMS in late 2024, contesting the final four races and immediately delivering a podium in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, Beganovic is a Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member and brings strong pedigree as the 2022 Formula Regional European Champion, alongside a multi win record in Formula 3.
Roman Bilinski steps up to Formula 2 after a strong Formula 3 campaign. He claimed a Sprint Race victory at Monza and added further podiums before earning promotion. Furthermore, he won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, proving adaptability across continents. As a result, he arrives with ambition and the tools to fight for regular points.
MP Motorsport
In 2025 MP Motorsport finished fifth in the Formula 2 Teams’ Championship. Moreover, the team showed consistent race pace and steady development against top competition. Their lineup included Richard Verschoor and Oliver Goethe, with Verschoor finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship.
For 2026 MP Motorsport fields Oliver Goethe and Gabriele Minì. Consequently, the team commits to growth through continuity and proven talent.
Oliver Goethe returns for his second full Formula 2 season after a year of consolidation and learning. Previously, he joined MP mid 2024 and progressed into a complete 2025 campaign with several fourth place finishes. He raced in Spanish F4 and Formula Regional Europe, plus starred at the Macau Grand Prix with a runner up result.
Gabriele Minì joins MP for his second Formula 2 campaign after racing with PREMA last season. In 2025, he scored three podiums and finished 13th overall, which highlighted clear rookie progress. Minì won Italian F4 in 2020, finished runner up in Formula Regional Europe in 2022, and claimed second in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship. At the start of 2023, he joined the Alpine Academy, reinforcing his Formula 1 pathway.
PREMA Racing
In 2025 PREMA Racing finished sixth in the Formula 2 Teams’ Championship. Nevertheless, the season showed steady progress from a youthful lineup. The team ran Sebastián Montoya and Gabriele Minì, who delivered flashes of pace and valuable points.
For 2026 PREMA Racing confirms Sebastián Montoya and Mari Boya. As a result, the team balances continuity with fresh energy at one of Formula 2’s most storied outfits.
Sebastián Montoya stays for his second Formula 2 season after a rookie year that produced three podiums. He progressed through Italian F4 and Formula Regional before stepping into FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2. Montoya was part of the Red Bull Junior Team in 2023. Furthermore, in May 2025, he joined Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management, which sharpened his professional trajectory.
Mari Boya graduates to Formula 2 after a breakout 2025 Formula 3 season. He fought near the title and secured five podiums and one victory. Boya belongs to the Aston Martin Driver Academy, which connects him directly to a Formula 1 development structure. Moreover, strong performances at Macau and Silverstone highlighted resilience and race intelligence. Consequently, he brings adaptability and strategic awareness suited to Formula 2’s longer races.
Sebastián Montoya stands in the PREMA garage beside his Formula 2 car – Credit: PREMA Racing
Rodin Motorsport
In 2025 Rodin Motorsport fought through a challenging Formula 2 season and showcased real pace as the year unfolded. Their lineup featured Alex Dunne and Amaury Cordeel, with Dunne emerging as one of the series’ breakthrough talents thanks to his strong pace and consistent finishes.
For 2026 Rodin Motorsport confirmed Alex Dunne and Martinius Stenshorne, blending proven pace with vibrant rookie speed.
Alex Dunne enters 2026 armed with momentum after a standout rookie season where he scored two race wins, multiple podiums and finished fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. He progressed through British F4 and GB3 before moving into FIA Formula 3, where he competed against future rivals. Since joining Rodin in 2025, Dunne built strong continuity with his engineers and carried that into testing and race weekends.
Martinius Stenshorne steps up to full-time Formula 2 with Rodin after two strong seasons in FIA Formula 3, where he scored multiple wins and finished fifth overall before earning this promotion. He also showed impressive pace in his 2025 F2 debut at Baku, qualifying in the top ten and challenging more experienced competitors before race retirements. Stenshorne began racing in karting at age ten and brought a rich junior résumé that includes victories and sustained high performance through the ranks.
ART Grand Prix
In 2025 ART Grand Prix competed with Ritomo Miyata and Victor Martins, forming a mix of experience and young talent as they battled through a tough midfield. The season lacked consistent top results, but the team gained crucial mileage and data against stronger outfits.
For 2026 ART confirmed Kush Maini and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, representing a blend of established experience and fresh potential.
Kush Maini joins ART from DAMS after multiple seasons in Formula 2, including a memorable Sprint Race win in Monaco in 2025 that underlined his race-winning capability. His Formula 2 journey includes development through British F3 and steady improvement across each year, giving ART valuable championship experience.
Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak returns to Formula 2 with ART after debuting late in 2025, when he raced for Trident in the final round. He earned his big step forward with a strong 2025 FIA Formula 3 season that featured front-running pace and three wins, making him a notable rookie prospect. Inthraphuvasak brings momentum and recent competitive experience into a full season of F2.
AIX Racing
In 2025 AIX Racing finished ninth in the Formula 2 Teams’ Championship but still delivered headline results, winning both the Australia Sprint Race and the Abu Dhabi Feature Race late in the season. Their 2025 lineup included Cian Shields and Joshua Dürksen, with Dürksen scoring that dramatic Abu Dhabi victory before departing the team.
For 2026 AIX Racing unveiled a refreshed pairing of Cian Shields and Emerson Fittipaldi Jr., combining growing experience with fresh energy.
Cian Shields returns for his second full Formula 2 season after a tough rookie year where he failed to score points but gained deep experience in tyre management and race craft. He stepped up to Formula 2 from FIA Formula 3 and Euroformula Open, giving him a broad foundation in single-seat racing.
Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. makes his Formula 2 debut in 2026, bringing a famous racing lineage and a strong junior résumé that includes podium-level performances in Eurocup-3, plus competitive experience in Italian Formula 4 and the Formula Regional European Championship. His upbringing and progression across junior categories give him the mindset and tools to tackle the challenges of Formula 2.
Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR)
In 2025 Van Amersfoort Racing finished near the back of the Formula 2 Teams Championship after a difficult campaign in a deep and unforgiving field. However, the team kept fighting and extracted results when opportunities appeared. VAR ran Rafael Villagómez and John Bennett, with Villagómez delivering the team’s strongest performances through a podium and several top ten finishes.
For 2026 VAR confirms continuity and change, as Rafael Villagómez returns and Nicolás Varrone joins to complete the lineup.
Rafael Villagómez enters his third full Formula 2 season with VAR, a level of continuity that remains rare in junior categories. He stepped up to F2 in 2024 and improved steadily across 2025, which included his first F2 podium in Barcelona and another later in the year. Earlier, he progressed from karting to French and British Formula 4, then advanced through FIA Formula 3, where he scored wins and consistent points. Consequently, Villagómez brings experience, stability and deep familiarity with the team.
Nicolás Varrone makes his Formula 2 debut in 2026 after a prolonged absence from single seaters and a highly successful sportscar career. In recent years, he achieved a World Endurance Championship title and a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which sharpened his strategic awareness. Earlier, he competed in Formula Renault 2.0 and BRDC British Formula 3, where he claimed wins before budget limits slowed his open wheel progress. Therefore, Varrone arrives with mature racecraft and advanced tyre management, assets VAR hopes will accelerate his adaptation to Formula 2.
Trident Motorsport
In 2025 Trident finished eleventh in the Formula 2 Teams Championship with just two points, as consistent pace proved elusive throughout the season. Nevertheless, the year delivered valuable data and operational lessons for the future.
Throughout 2025, Trident rotated six drivers across the season, namely Sami Meguetounif, Laurens van Hoepen, Max Esterson, Martinius Stenshorne, Josh Wharton and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, reflecting a period of experimentation and evaluation.
For 2026 Trident confirms Laurens van Hoepen and John Bennett, signaling a renewed focus on stability and structured development.
Laurens van Hoepen begins his first full Formula 2 season after making his debut late in 2025. Over three rounds, he logged critical mileage and adapted quickly to the increased power and race complexity. He closed his FIA Formula 3 career with five podiums and a pole position, which underlined his upward trajectory. As a result, van Hoepen enters 2026 with a solid technical base and the confidence to push development forward.
John Bennett continues in Formula 2 for a second full campaign, joining Trident after driving for VAR in 2025. He made his Formula 2 debut at the end of 2024 and then completed his first full season in 2025, where he scored a single championship point while showing gradual progress across race weekends. Previously, Bennett finished vice champion in the GB3 Championship and displayed strong pace in Formula Regional Middle East. Consequently, he brings persistence, structure and clear growth potential to Trident’s 2026 campaign.
Conclusion
Overall, 2026’s F2 season promises even closer action. The grid blends continuity (many returnees) with fresh talent.
As Bruno Michel (F2 CEO) noted, the series “remains closely aligned with F1 while carving its own identity”.
Stay tuned: the path to F1 heats up again, and the 2026 champion will emerge battle-tested on tracks old and new.
Feature Image: Dutch Photo Agency via DAMS