Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov says he is focusing on delivering consistent performances after winning the opening FIA Formula 2 Feature Race of 2026.
The Campos driver held off Formula 3 champion Rafael Camara to clinch victory after the two Rodin cars, which had led early, took each other out.
“I didn’t think I would lead the championship after the first round,” Tsolov said, after his victory in Melbourne thrust him into an early championship lead.
“I was more kind of wanting to do progress through the year but it’s good to take the lead because now I can just focus on consistent finishes and staying calm in the races,” he added.
The perfect way to celebrate your first #F2 victory ??#AusGP pic.twitter.com/YUsQNLCfm1
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 8, 2026
Tsolov says he knows there will be ups and downs throughout the remaining 13 rounds of the championship, insisting “that’s usual”.
“The more consistent you are, looking at last year, the better you’re going to do so that will be my target,” he said.
Tsolov cool in “messy” race
Tsolov, 19, made a good start from fifth on the grid and survived a chaotic opening lap where team mate Noel León tangled with MP’s Oliver Goethe, meaning he had risen to third, behind the Rodin pair of Martinius Stenshorne and Alex Dunne, with all three jumping pole sitter Dino Beganovic.
He said he’d planned to see how the strategy unfolded, but at the start of Lap 3, Dunne moved across on Stenshorne when attempting to take the lead, leaving the Norwegian nowhere to go as they collided, eliminating them both from the race.
CONTACT BETWEEN TEAMMATES ??
The incident that took the Rodin Motorsport duo out of the Melbourne Feature Race ?
Alex Dunne received a 5-place grid penalty for the next Feature Race.#F2 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/ILs2dTkgeC
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 8, 2026
Tsolov said that moment wasn’t without its concerns.
The two Rodin’s were very eager to stay in front and stay ahead of each other so I let them do their thing which ended up in an incident. I tried to avoid it, I was a little worried that they might take me out too,” he said.
But he said that once in front, he felt comfortable and was able to manage his pace.
A mid-race Safety Car allowed Van Amersfoort Racing’s Nico Varrone pinch the lead on the alternate strategy, but Tsolov pounced quickly to regain the lead and build a gap to Camara, sealing the win.
Pride in representing Bulgaria on the top stop
The 19-year-old became the first Bulgarian to win an F2 race when he took the chequered flag at Albert Park.
He said he is “very proud” of that achievement.
“I think about it and going into the season I didn’t have a doubt that this moment would come but it’s great to finally realise it and do it on the first round is something I didn’t think of,” Tsolov explained.
He referenced that he’d previously suffered misfortune during his races in Australia, which were all in F3.
Tsolov described the nation as “one of my favourite countries”, saying he is delighted to “overcome the jinx” of racing down under.
Image: Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
