All images ©: Dutch Photo Agency
Invicta Racing delivered a commanding performance in Budapest, with a front row lockout in Qualifying and a dominant 1-2 finish in Sunday’s Feature Race.
Roman Stanek was first out on track, keen to bank early laps, while team-mate Leonardo Fornaroli remained in the pits. Roman’s opening effort put him at the top of the timing tower, and he went even quicker on his second attempt to solidify his position.
As much of the field returned to the pits, Leonardo headed out for his first flying lap on a clear track. He briefly went fastest, but the lap was deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 3. The Italian recovered with a clean lap good enough for P4 before pitting.
With fresh tyres, Roman returned to the circuit and continued to improve his benchmark time, maintaining his hold on provisional pole. Leonardo had time for one final push, delivering a strong lap to move up to second.
When the clock ran down to zero, it confirmed Roman as the pole-sitter – his first in FIA Formula 2 – with Leonardo locking in a front-row sweep for Invicta Racing alongside him in P2.
2025 Formula 2 BUDAPEST Qualifying RESULTS
Roman Stanek: P1 (1:28.779)
Leonardo Fornaroli: P2 (1:28.925)
With the top 10 from Qualifying reversed for the Sprint Race grid, Leonardo and Roman lined up P9 and P10 respectively on Medium compound tyres. With track temperatures reaching 51 degrees, tyre management would be the key focus.
Both drivers made clean starts – Leonardo gaining two places and Roman moving up one. However, Roman’s progress took an early hit when contact from Gabriele Minì at Turn 9 sent him into a spin, dropping the Czech driver to the back of the field.
In the opening laps, Leonardo was forced to defend hard from Oliver Goethe and Richard Verschoor but held his ground well to maintain position. Roman, eanwhile, began a determined recovery drive, climbing to P19 by Lap 4.
As the race settled into a rhythm with drivers managing tyre wear, Leonardo and Roman were running P7 and P18 at the halfway point.
A Safety Car on Lap 22 saw Roman move up to P15, with Leonardo maintaining P7. Racing resumed on Lap 25, and while a small lock-up into Turn 1 opened the door for Verschoor, Leonardo defended strongly and held his position to the flag.
Roman continued to make up ground, gaining two more places to finish P13 – an impressive recovery after the early setback.
Post-race penalties promoted Leonardo a further two positions to P5 in the final classification.
2025 Formula 2 BUDAPEST Sprint Race RESULTS
Leonardo Fornaroli: P5 (4 points)
Roman Stanek: P13 (0 points)
Lining up on the front row, both Roman and Leonardo opted for the Soft compound tyre on a drying track following an earlier downpour. Roman controlled the rolling start well and by Lap 2 the Invicta Racing duo had already pulled a gap to the field.
However, two Virtual Safety Car periods early in the race on Laps 6 and 10 stalled their momentum, and once racing resumed for the second time, Leonardo came under increasing pressure from Jak Crawford behind.
Roman pitted at the end of Lap 15, rejoining in P10 after a clean stop. Leonardo inherited the lead and boxed a lap later, emerging just ahead of his team-mate to take the net lead of the race thanks to a strong in-lap and another quick stop from the team.
The race would take a further twist, as Leonardo was handed a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane, prompting him to push hard to open a gap and protect his position.
Behind, Roman found himself locked in a tense battle with Crawford, who launched a move into Turn 1 on Lap 28. Roman swiftly fought back, retaking the position around the outside of Turn 2.
With seven laps to go, Leonardo caught and passed Ritomo Miyata – who had yet to stop – for the overall race lead. Crucially, his subsequent pace allowed him to build a gap large enough to neutralise his penalty.
Crawford’s challenge faded in the closing laps as he approached his final track limits warning, giving Roman breathing room. When Miyata finally pitted on Lap 35, Roman reclaimed P2 on the road.
Leonardo crossed the line to secure his first FIA Formula 2 Feature Race victory, with Roman completing an Invicta Racing 1-2 in a dominant team performance to close out the weekend.
The result strengthens both Leonardo and Invicta Racing’s lead in the Driver and Teams’ standings respectively heading into the summer break.
2025 Formula 2 BUDAPEST FEATURE Race RESULTS
Leonardo Fornaroli: P1 (25 points)
Roman Stanek: P2 (20 points)
LEONARDO FORNAROLI
“What a weekend! I am so pleased we finally managed to take a Feature Race win. It wasn’t easy, having to create the gap after the time penalty, but the pace in the car has been incredible. We’ve worked really hard this season to get here and I’m super happy to share this moment with Roman as well. To go into the summer break in this position is really positive, so we will rest a little bit and then continue the work ahead of Monza.”
READ MORE: Getting to know Leonardo Fornaroli
ROMAN STANEK
“It has been a really strong weekend for us. Taking my first pole in Formula 2 was a special moment, and to back it up with P2 in the Feature Race feels great. Of course, as a driver you always want the win, but I’m really proud of the team and the 1-2 result shows the progress we have made this season. We’re going into the summer break in a positive position, and I’m already looking forward to building on this when we get back on track in Monza.”
READ MORE: Getting to know Roman Stanek
JAMES ROBINSON, TEAM PRINCIPAL
“It has been a great weekend for the team, with both Leonardo and Roman doing a brilliant job from the start and the team executing every session to an incredibly high standard. I’m extremely pleased for Roman to get his first pole position. We knew it was a matter of time before these performances came in and he is building some real momentum now. Leonardo has also performed incredibly well this weekend, cementing himself in the lead of the Drivers’ standings and taking his first Feature Race win. With such a competitive field, this has been one of the most important parts of the season, so to go into the summer break leading both championships is fantastic. We will keep pushing to maintain this form when we return in September.”
READ MORE: Getting to know James Robinson
2025 Formula 2 STANDINGS
Invicta Racing: P1 (231 points)
Leonardo Fornaroli: P1 (154 points)
Roman Stanek: P8 (77 points)
READ MORE: See the full FIA Formula 2 2025 Standings
CIRCUIT: AUTODROMO NAZIONALE MONZA
ROUND: 11
DATE: 5-7 SEPTEMBER
READ MORE: Where to watch F2 in 2025
