FORMULA 2 – NOEL LEON SETS THE PACE IN THE FIRST DAY OF TESTING
The 2026 Formula 2 season got underway this Tuesday in Barcelona with the first of three pre-season testing days. Teams and drivers returned to the track for the first time this year to prepare for the upcoming season, ahead of the opening race weekend in Melbourne.
First Laps of the Season, Stenshorne Leads the Way
The morning session began with installation laps and work on the cars’ base set-ups. Teams focused on building mileage to ensure everything was running smoothly after the winter break.
At the end of the morning, Martinius Stenshorne stood out by setting the fastest time in 1:25.437, topping the timesheets. Just behind him, Alexander Dunne was very close with a 1:25.452, while Gabriele Minì completed the top three with a 1:25.602.
The morning performances showed a very tight hierarchy: Nikola Tsolov (1:25.702), Noel León (1:25.815) and Oliver Goethe (1:25.829) were also among the quickest drivers before the lunch break.
Varied Programmes in the Afternoon, Noel León Takes the Fastest Time
The afternoon session allowed teams to run both race and qualifying simulations.
At the start of the afternoon, most teams focused on race runs. Lap times gradually improved throughout the session, with qualifying simulations taking place towards the end of the day.
Noel León, Varrone and Duerksen were the fastest drivers of the afternoon, with León pulling clear of the field by nearly six tenths. However, lap times during testing are not fully representative.
At the end of this first day, it is still too early to draw firm conclusions. Winter testing remains an opportunity to try different set-ups and programmes. Fuel loads and tyre strategies vary, meaning the lap times do not necessarily reflect a team’s true performance.
Three red flags interrupted the day overall, as they were caused by Durksen, Montoya and Nikola Tsolov.
Nevertheless, the day allowed all drivers to complete valuable mileage, and the rookies were able to adapt to their new teams.
Testing continues on Wednesday and Thursday, with two full days remaining to fine-tune the cars and continue progressing ahead of the season opener in Melbourne in March.
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