Rafael Camara, the Invicta Racing driver and Ferrari Academy prospect, turned his pole position at Barcelona into his inaugural FIA Formula 2 victory on Sunday. After slipping back at the start, he recovered by exploiting a superior pace and disciplined tyre management, eventually pulling away to finish nearly ten seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
Camara's strategy hinged on an unusually long first stint on the soft compound, lasting 22 laps—well beyond what his competitors could sustain. Rejoining the race in fifth, he rapidly closed the gap to the leaders, whose older tyres were losing grip, and reclaimed the lead. Meanwhile, Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov opted for an early hard‑tyre run before switching to softs, which earned him a second‑place finish after a series of overtakes. Alexander Dunne completed the podium, extending his record of at least one top‑three finish in every F2 weekend this season.
The win underscores Camara's growing reputation for racecraft and tyre conservation, qualities that could prove decisive in the remaining rounds of the 2026 season. His performance also highlights the strategic variance among teams as they balance tyre longevity against outright speed.
