Tsolov's Dramatic Sprint Victory
Nikola Tsolov Wins Silverstone F2 Sprint in Final Lap Pass, Seizes Championship Lead
Key Points
Tsolov enjoyed a strong start, rising from fifth on the grid to third as Mini led the field early, with Rafael Villagomez moving ahead of Ritomo Miyata as Miyata dropped to fourth.
The sprint was interrupted by a safety-car after a collision at the pit straight involving Sebastian Montoya and John Bennett, with both drivers eliminated on the spot.
On the restart, Tsolov used DRS to move onto the tail of Mini and briefly closed in on the race leader while challenging for second behind Mini.
Mini opened the final lap with the lead but locked up, which allowed Tsolov to seize the advantage in the closing kilometres and take the victory.
This win marks Tsolov’s fifth of the season, leaving him level on points with Mini but ahead on race wins, extending his position at the top of the standings.
Nikola Tsolov pulled off a last-lap overtake to win the Silverstone Formula 2 Sprint Race on Saturday, taking his fifth victory of the 2026 season. The Campos Racing driver surged past championship rival Gabriele Minì in the closing kilometres to snatch the lead and the win, according to Formula 1.
The result leaves Tsolov level on points with Minì but ahead in the standings on race wins, effectively handing him the championship lead, Feeder Series reported. It is a stunning turnaround for the Bulgarian driver, who started the race sixth on the grid.
Tsolov Charges From Sixth to Take the Victory
Minì started from pole and led the field comfortably in the early stages. Tsolov, meanwhile, made an aggressive start from sixth. He climbed to third quickly, sitting behind Minì and Rafael Villagomez, according to FIA Formula 2.
Tsolov used DRS — a rear-wing system that boosts straight-line speed — to close on Minì after the restart. On the final lap, Minì locked up his brakes. That mistake was all Tsolov needed. He swept past to take the win, Racer reported.
Safety Car Shuffles the Order After Montoya-Bennett Crash
The race was interrupted by a safety car after a collision on the pit straight between Sebastian Montoya and John Bennett. Both drivers were eliminated on the spot, according to Formula 1. The incident bunched the field together and set up a tense restart.
The restart proved decisive. Tsolov immediately pressured the cars ahead of him. He first moved past Villagomez for second, then set his sights on Minì. The safety-car period gave him the close racing he needed to mount his final charge, FIA Formula 2 noted.
Fifth Win of the Season Puts Tsolov on Top
This is Tsolov's fifth sprint win of the 2026 F2 season. Feeder Series described it as a continuation of his "winning streak" that has defined this campaign. No other driver has matched his pace in sprint races this year.
Tsolov and Minì are now tied on points. But Tsolov holds the edge thanks to his superior win count, SSB Crack reported. The championship fight between the two rivals is set to intensify heading into the next round.
Mini's Early Dominance Undone by One Costly Mistake
Minì had looked in control for most of the race. Starting from pole, he built a gap and managed his tyres well in the opening laps. His race pace gave little away. But the lock-up on the final lap erased all of that hard work in an instant.
It is a tough loss for the MP Motorsport driver. Racer noted that Minì had led most of the race before the late drama. He still sits joint-top in the standings, but Tsolov's relentless sprint-race form makes him a serious threat going forward.
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