Formula 2 - Barcelona

The FIA Formula 2 Championship returns to Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya in Spain for the 2026 season. This Barcelona F2 race serves as a support event to the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The circuit in Montmeló, located just north of Barcelona in Catalonia, hosts this competitive single-seater championship race.

Race Format and Competition

The Barcelona F2 weekend follows the standard championship format. Drivers participate in a free practice session, a qualifying session, a Sprint Race, and a Feature Race. The Feature Race requires a compulsory pitstop where teams must change all four tyres. The Drag Reduction System (DRS) operates in designated zones around the Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya to assist with overtaking opportunities.

Points are awarded to the top eight finishers in the Sprint Race. The Feature Race awards points to the top ten drivers. Additional points go to the pole position holder for the Feature Race. Drivers who set the fastest lap in either race receive bonus points, provided they finish within the top ten positions.

Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya

Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya measures 4.657 kilometers in length. The motorsport race track features 16 corners and a main straight that extends over one kilometer. The circuit holds an FIA Grade 1 license, which qualifies it to host the highest level of motorsport competition.

The track in Montmeló, Spain, is known as an "all-rounder" circuit. It combines long straights with diverse corner types and elevation changes. This layout makes the venue an ideal testing ground for racing teams. The circuit can accommodate over 140,000 spectators.

Track Characteristics

Several corners at Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya offer overtaking opportunities. Turns 1-2, 4, 5, 10, and 14 are recognized as key areas where drivers can attempt passes. The track experiences changing wind directions throughout the day, which affects the aerodynamic performance of the cars. Teams must adjust their setups to account for these conditions.

Teams and Drivers

The 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship features 11 teams with a grid of 22 drivers competing at the Barcelona F2 event.

2026 Teams

The teams competing in the 2026 season are Invicta Racing, Hitech TGR, Campos Racing, DAMS Lucas Oil, MP Motorsport, Prema Racing, Rodin Motorsport, ART Grand Prix, AIX Racing, Van Amersfoort Racing, and Trident.

2026 Drivers

The driver lineup includes Rafael Câmara and Joshua Duerksen at Invicta Racing. Hitech TGR fields Colton Herta and Ritomo Miyata. Campos Racing runs Noel León and Nikola Tsolov. DAMS Lucas Oil features Dino Beganovic and Roman Bilinski. MP Motorsport has Gabriele Minì and Oliver Goethe. Prema Racing enters Sebastián Montoya and Mari Boya. Rodin Motorsport competes with Martinius Stenshorne and Alexander Dunne. ART Grand Prix fields Kush Maini and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak. AIX Racing runs Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. and Cian Shields. Van Amersfoort Racing has Nicolás Varrone and Rafael Villagómez. Trident completes the grid with Laurens van Hoepen and John Bennett.

Technical Specifications

Formula 2 operates as a spec series. All teams use identical equipment to emphasize driver skill over technical advantages.

Car Components

All cars use the Dallara F2 2024 chassis. Power comes from a Mecachrome-assembled 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 engine. Pirelli supplies all tyres and allocates five sets of dry-weather tyres per weekend to each driver. The fuel contains sustainable components, with plans for further increases in sustainable content for the 2026 season.

Regulations

The FIA Formula 2 Championship enforces strict technical and sporting regulations. Individual team developments and upgrades are prohibited. All spare parts must be purchased directly from the F2 championship organizers or approved suppliers. This maintains parity across all teams competing at Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya.

Circuit History and Background

Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya opened in 1991. The venue hosted its first Formula 1 Grand Prix shortly after opening. The Barcelona round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship started in 2017. The circuit was originally named Circuit de Catalunya until 2013, when Barcelona was added to the name through a sponsorship agreement with the city council.

The challenging layout at this Spain venue has made it a prime testing location for various motorsport categories. Teams use the circuit extensively for pre-season testing and development work.

Notable Features

The circuit played a role in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. It served as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event. An old farmhouse called "La Moreneta" sits on a hill near Turn 7. The building predates the circuit and now houses the circuit's offices.

Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya holds a 3-star FIA Environmental Accreditation and ISO 14001 certification. This makes it one of the most sustainable racetracks globally. The facility demonstrates commitment to environmental responsibility in motorsport.

What to Expect

The Barcelona F2 race at Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya in Spain offers close competition among young drivers. The spec series format ensures that driver talent determines the results. The circuit's varied layout tests multiple aspects of driving skill, from high-speed straight-line performance to technical corner work. Fans can expect strategic racing with the mandatory pitstop adding tactical elements to the Feature Race. The Sprint Race provides additional action with its shorter format and reverse-grid element for top qualifiers.