Nikola Tsolov Leads Formula 2 Championship After Spa Weekend

During the free‑practice session at Spa‑Francorchamps, Bulgarian driver Nikola Tsolov set the quickest lap of 1:58.927, edging out Martinius Stenshorne by 0.199 seconds before a red‑flag halted the run.

The Belgian round ended with Tsolov finishing third, extending his lead in the 2026 Formula 2 championship to 161 points, ahead of Gabriele Mini (134) and Rafael Câmara (125). The updated standings list the top‑ten drivers and show the points gap across the field.

Racing Bulls director Alan Permane praised Tsolov’s performance, calling him a strong candidate for a future Red Bull senior seat, though any promotion will depend on market dynamics and Max Verstappen’s situation. The Faenza‑based team is contesting fifth place in the constructors’ championship, one point behind Alpine. His string of strong results has been hailed as a historic achievement for a Bulgarian driver in the series.