Noel León Converts VSC Timing into First F2 Feature Race Win of the Season

León holds off Maini in late Hungaroring thriller

Noel León turned a perfectly timed pit stop into his first Formula 2 Feature Race victory of the season, resisting sustained pressure from pole-sitter Kush Maini and Invicta’s Rafa Câmara at the Hungaroring.

The Campos driver stopped on Lap 17, just before the virtual safety car was deployed for Rafael Villagómez’s stranded VAR at Turn 13. That timing proved decisive. When the race resumed, León had gained valuable ground and emerged as the leading driver among those who had completed their mandatory stop.

Maini ultimately finished less than a second behind, while Câmara completed the podium. The result added to León’s two Sprint Race victories and delivered a major reward for Campos after a controlled strategic performance.

The close finish followed Maini’s earlier pole position at the Hungaroring, where the ART driver had edged Câmara by just over a tenth of a second.

Maini controls the opening stint

Maini made the best start from pole, covering Câmara into Turn 1 and maintaining the lead despite a lock-up. He quickly established a gap of almost three seconds, extending it beyond five seconds by Lap 10 as León struggled to match his pace on the opening stint.

The race’s early phase was interrupted by trouble elsewhere. Roman Bilinski was wheeled into the pit lane before the start, while Martinius Stenshorne suffered steering damage after Nikola Tsolov ran off at Turn 4. Stenshorne later rejoined two laps down.

Medium-tyred runners gradually moved forward as the soft-tyred cars began stopping. Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak passed Joshua Dürksen for fifth on Lap 14, before León’s pit entry opened the strategic phase of the race.

Late pressure fails to unsettle Campos

Câmara stopped on Lap 21 and returned almost six seconds behind León. Maini emerged a lap later but lost time behind Emerson Fittipaldi Jr and Ollie Goethe, who had yet to pit. That traffic allowed León to preserve a lead of four seconds by Lap 25.

Maini then produced the strongest late charge. With five laps remaining, he was within one second and had DRS available, while Câmara stayed close enough to keep the fight alive. León nevertheless held the lead into the final lap, and Maini lost the crucial DRS range.

León crossed the line first, followed by Maini and Câmara. Laurens van Hoepen finished fourth, ahead of Inthraphuvasak, Dino Beganovic and championship leader Tsolov. Joshua Dürksen, Gabriele Minì and John Bennett completed the points-scoring positions.

León holds off Maini in late Hungaroring thriller