Formula 2 report: Nikola Tsolov takes vital win in classic Austrian feature race

The young Bulgarian got a great launch, passing Alex Dunne off the line, before sailing down the inside of Noel Leon at T3 to take the lead. What followed was an incredible battle for the win with Dunne, title rival Gabriele Mini, and a charging Oliver Goethe on supersoft tyres. 

Fighting at the front very nearly allowed Goethe and the other alternative strategy runners to make the overcut work. However, Tsolov managed to create a gap in the closing stages that insulated him from the pressure behind and allowed him to coast to an important victory. 

After the race, he tried not to get too excited about the result. But even a cursory look at the standings will tell you one thing: Tsolov and Mini are the clear favorites to fight it out for this year’s F2 drivers’ crown. 

Tsolov said: "I do take it race by race, but obviously I do look at the championship as well, because it can help you judge your movements better and not take so much risk. 

“So I look at both, but I'm not really focused on that. Obviously it's still very early in the season, so it is good to close the gap after the last three rounds,” he added. “We've been going similarly on points with Gabriele, and we've been really competitive, if you check previous years as well. So it is good to pull away from the rest of the pack.”

Sunday’s feature race quickly split in two, with the leaders starting on supersofts and pitting early. Those on harder tyres pitted late onto much faster rubber. The convergence of these two groups made for a really fun watch—and a great appetizer for the main dish, George Russell’s eventual victory in Formula 1. 

Tsolov passed Campos teammate Leon off the start, as Dunne tussled with fellow Alpine Junior Mini, and Josh Durksen swerved in front of Sebastian Montoya and Rafael Villagomez, causing them to crash. It was status quo after the resulting safety car, but not for long, as Tsolov lost time with a slow pitstop. 

While Mini was initially able to jump him, Tsolov reclaimed the lead almost straight away at T3. Dunne then steamed around the outside of Mini and divebombed Tsolov for first place, leaving the title rivals to duke it out behind. This lasted a few laps, until Dunne dropped it all by himself on the exit of the last corner, letting Tsolov back past. 

In the closing stages, things went really nuts as Goethe was joined by supersoft runners Laurens van Hoepen and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in cutting through the field. When Formula 3 champion Rafael Camara started swapping places with Dunne, Goethe swept around the outside of both. Inthraphuvasak ended up P5, van Hoepen took P8, and Goethe came back from P10 for a podium finish. 

Ultimately, Mini, aka Mr. Consistent, ran at the front quietly and efficiently (as he has done all season) to grab P2. Tsolov timed his run for the win perfectly. In a series full of youngsters earning their stripes, these two are showing the composure needed to go all the way. 

The inverted top-ten starting grid opened the door to two unusual names: Montoya and John Bennett, both searching for their first F2 victories. Bennett jumped Montoya off the start, who had to settle for second in the early stages, as Rafael Villagomez filled his mirrors in third. 

Further back, Camara then caused a big pile-up by nudging Inthraphuvasak into a spin. This eventually caused Goethe, Fittipaldi Jr, and Durksen to retire. Critically, it also dropped Tsolov down to P15. A few laps after the resulting safety car, Montoya went for it, passing a very compliant Bennett for lead at T4, and making himself a small gap. 

As the race wore on, Leon dropped back behind Roman Bilinski, Kush Maini, and title contender Mini, who eventually passed a struggling Camara for P5. Dunne had another adventurous race, taking P4, but not quite managing his first podium of the season. And Colton Herta’s anonymous run continued with a DNF in the closing stages.

As Tsolov fought back to P8, taking the last points-paying position, Bennett launched an audacious final lap move for the lead, snatching the win with just a few corners to go. Montoya was all over the road defending the position, to such an extent that Villagomez nearly took second as they crossed the line together.

It was a great spectacle. Well done to Bennett, who very much took his first opportunity for victory. This weekend's overtaking fest was also well-timed, with silly season just around corner, and F1 teams starting to think about lineups for next year.