The Campos Racing driver was second in the opening stint, but a Virtual Safety Car gave him the perfect opportunity to emerge with the race lead. He then kept ART Grand Prix driver Kush Maini and Invicta Racing’s Rafael Câmara behind to the chequered flag.
AS IT HAPPENED
Maini got the start he needed to cover off Câmara, with the Brazilian down to third after León got through on the run to Turn 1. Up to Turn 4 and there was contact involving Nikola Tsolov, John Bennett and Martinius Stenshorne, leaving the latter with bent steering and down the back of the pack.
The race leader escaped up the road and was 1.7s clear by the time DRS was enabled on Lap 3, while León had Câmara for close company. Tsolov, running the alternative strategy on Mediums, broke into the top 10 with a late dive into Turn 1 on Nico Varrone, and on Lap 8 he was up to ninth as he cleared Sebastián Montoya at the same place.
Lap 10 and Maini was over four seconds clear of the P2 battle that went down to Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in sixth, the Thai driver the lead car on the alternative strategy. On to Lap 14 and the ART driver took fifth from Duerksen into Turn 1 as the Medium tyres began to show an advantage over the Softs.
Gabriele Minì was in for his mandatory stop from eighth to fit the Mediums on Lap 15. Duerksen was called in to respond right away, and the Invicta Racing driver rejoined in P15 ahead of Minì.
León pitted from second at the end of Lap 16 for his mandatory stop. The Mexican rejoined in P11 just as a Virtual Safety Car was deployed. Rafael Villagómez had stopped on track at Turn 12, though his car was recovered quickly. The VSC was withdrawn on Lap 18, with Maini leading the pack by six seconds.
Laurens van Hoepen pitted from third position, and the TRIDENT driver fed back out in 10th, 10 seconds adrift of León but ahead of Duerksen. The Campos driver was up to eighth as he rounded Oliver Goethe at Turn 2 on Lap 20, while Câmara was called in to the pit lane at the end of the lap. The Brazilian rejoined behind León to the tune of six seconds, and with van Hoepen to contend with right on his gearbox.
Maini finally made his stop at the end of Lap 21, but León was clear and into the net lead of the race as the ART driver rejoined in P8. Teammate Inthraphuvasak followed in on the next tour, and he was out ahead of Minì, but with tyres up to temperature the MP driver claimed the place. Maini and Câmara had the yet-to-pit pairing of Goethe and Emerson Fittipaldi to clear in order to set about catching León. Both moved ahead of Goethe on Lap 24, and the AIX Racing driver was in for his stop at the end of the lap to release them into clear air, albeit five seconds back from León.
Inthraphuvasak had his Soft tyres up to temperature and went around the outside of Turn 1 to take P8 from Minì. A fastest lap from Maini cut the deficit to León to three seconds with just over 10 laps to go. That gap was below two seconds as they crossed the line to begin Lap 28.
Tsolov made an important overtake in terms of the title fight as he cleared Minì on traction out of Turn 13 to take P9 on Lap 30. Duerksen was under big pressure from Inthraphuvasak as they battled over sixth place, and the Paraguayan driver was robust in defence to hold the ART back at Turns 1 and 2. On to Lap 32 and the Invicta driver kept his rival at bay once more in the opening corners.
With five laps to go, the top trio were separated by 1.8s, as the chasing pair continued to catch race leader León. Inthraphuvasak finally found a route through on Duerksen on Lap 34 at Turn 1, squeezing his way by on the inside to claim fifth. One lap later and Beganovic fought by to relegate the Invicta to P7. Tsolov then went around the outside of Turn 5 to take another place from Duerksen.
León was in control at the front though and he took his first Formula 2 Feature Race victory ahead of Maini, who kept Câmara at bay as they finished second and third respectively. Fourth was van Hoepen with Inthraphuvasak completing the top five. Beganovic and Tsolov followed, with Duerksen, Minì and Bennett rounding out the points down to 10th.
KEY QUOTE – Noel León, Campos Racing
"Super happy with this one. It's been a good weekend for us, but now it's time to rest. This is the best way to go into the break. Thank you all for your amazing support, and we'll keep pushing."
THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Nikola Tsolov retains the lead of the Drivers' Championship on 167 points ahead of Gabriele Minì in second now on 147. Rafael Câmara closes the gap in third with 145 points. Alexander Dunne stays fourth on 108. Noel León is fifth with 94 points.
Campos Racing lead the Teams' Standings on 261 points and they have a healthy advantage over second-placed Invicta Racing on 187. MP Motorsport are third on 176 with Rodin Motorsport fourth with 167. ART Grand Prix sit fifth on 147 points.
UP NEXT
FIA Formula 2 returns after the summer break with a visit to the Temple of Speed at Monza for Round 10 of the 2026 campaign, from September 4-6.
