Nikola Csolov penalised after Barcelona Formula 2 sprint, drops to fourth place

Bulgarian Formula 2 driver Nikola Csolov was handed a five‑second time penalty for an illegal overtake at the Catalonia circuit in Barcelona. Stewards said his car passed another car while off the track, breaching FIA rule‑book article 27.3. The penalty removed him from the podium, leaving him in fourth place behind Alex Dun and Gabriel Mini.

Csolov had qualified fifth for the sprint race and was a championship contender, having led the standings after his Monaco win. The sanction costs him valuable points that could have moved him to the top of the overall drivers' table, extending his narrow gap to leader Gabriel Mini.