Nikola Tsolov delivered another standout performance in Miami, winning one of the most dramatic Formula 2 Sprint Races in recent memory and leaving the weekend still leading the championship.
The Miami round marked the first ever Formula 2 race weekend in the United States, following the cancellations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier in the season. For Nikola and Campos Racing, it turned into a weekend full of challenges, but also one that showed exactly why he is fighting at the front of the championship.
Friday: No Practice Laps, But Still Top 10 in Qualifying
The weekend started with a major setback. Both Nikola and his teammate Noel León suffered technical issues during Free Practice, meaning neither driver managed to complete a proper lap.
“It was a really tough weekend in Miami,” Nikola said. “With the technical issues we had in Free Practice, I didn’t manage to do any laps on the track, so going into qualifying was a big guess for me as a driver, and also for the team setup-wise.”
With no meaningful track time before qualifying, Nikola had to learn the circuit under pressure. He had completed only two laps before his final push attempt, yet still managed to qualify P10, just three tenths away from pole position.
“I had only done two laps before my final push in qualifying on a completely new track. To still come away in the top 10, and only three tenths from pole, was something we probably didn’t expect. We were really happy with that.”
That result proved crucial. By qualifying tenth, Nikola secured reverse-grid pole for Saturday’s Sprint Race.
“I think that pretty much saved the weekend,” he added.
Saturday: A Sprint Race for the Ages
Saturday’s Sprint Race became one of the standout races of the season so far. From the first lap to the last, the fight for the top three positions never really settled. The powerful DRS effect on the back straight kept the lead battle alive throughout all 23 laps, with constant pressure, overtakes and counterattacks at the front.
Starting from pole, Nikola had to manage the race carefully. With no proper practice running and the medium tyre being used on this track for the first time, the team had limited data to work with.
“In the Sprint Race, I just managed to control the gap and the tyres really well, especially with DRS. It was the first time running the medium tyres on that track, and because we missed practice, it was difficult for the team with setup and everything.”
The race came down to the final lap. Laurens Van Hoepen managed to overtake Nikola into Turn 10, but ran deep into Turn 11. That allowed the Bulgarian Lion to stay right on his tail heading into the final DRS zone of the race.
Nikola then launched a brave move around the outside of Turn 17 and crossed the line first, sealing a dramatic victory and another important 10 points for the championship.
“Coming away with 10 points was exactly what we needed,” Nikola said.
Sunday: Feature Race Ends Early After Turn 1 Contact
After the Sprint win, Nikola went into Sunday’s Feature Race feeling confident. The race was moved earlier in the day due to rain concerns around the Formula 1 schedule, but his expectations remained high.
“Honestly, I was feeling pretty optimistic. I was feeling very confident about finishing top five, or maybe even fighting for a podium. Looking back at it, it was definitely possible.”
Unfortunately, the race ended before it had a real chance to begin. Coming into Turn 1, Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak made contact with Nikola’s right rear side, forcing him out of the race. The incident earned Inthraphuvasak a 10-second penalty.
Off track, the two drivers are good friends and quickly cleared the air after the race, with Tasanapol apologising for the mistake.
Still Leading the Championship
Despite the difficult weekend, the missed practice, the technical issues and the early retirement on Sunday, Nikola left Miami still leading the championship.
“To still lead the championship after a messy weekend like that is something we definitely didn’t expect, but I’m really happy to see it,” he said.
The result in Miami was more than just another race win. It showed that even on a weekend where almost nothing went smoothly, Nikola and the team could still find a way to deliver.
“For sure it gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, knowing that even with tough weekends, we can still be up there and fight.”
Next up is Montreal, another new track and another opportunity to build on a strong start to the season.
“I’m really looking forward to Canada. It’s a new track and a good opportunity to make up some ground and score more points.”