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Two drivers have been handed post-race penalties following the conclusion of the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race in Montreal, with the stewards' decisions significantly altering the final classification.
Nikola Tsolov of Campos Racing has been awarded a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage â a verdict that proves particularly costly in the standings.
The incident occurred as Tsolov battled Car 10 of Oliver Goethe through Turns 13 and 14. After reviewing video and GPS evidence, the stewards determined that although Tsolov had legitimately defended his position against Goethe, he did so by leaving the circuit and retaining the place â a clear breach of the regulations.
The penalty drops Tsolov from fourth to 12th in the final classification, a dramatic eight-position swing that underlines just how pivotal those few metres off the racing surface proved to be. It was a weekend in which track limits and driving standards were already under scrutiny, as a chaotic F2 Feature Race unfolded in difficult conditions at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Hitech's Ritomo Miyata has also been penalised, receiving a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with MP Motorsport's Oliver Goethe in the closing stages of the race.
The stewards reviewed video evidence and heard directly from both drivers and their respective team representatives before reaching their verdict. Their conclusion was clear: Goethe had established rights to Turn 11, and Miyata was found to be the driver predominantly responsible for the contact that followed. That said, the stewards did acknowledge that both drivers had contributed to the incident, a factor taken into account when determining the weight of the penalty.
With the five-second addition applied, Miyata remains P16 in the Feature Race result â meaning the penalty, while a formal reprimand on his record, does not alter his classified position.
It was not the first time Goethe's name featured in the stewards' notes this weekend in Montreal. The MP Motorsport driver had already been involved in a separate regulatory matter during Formula 2 qualifying, where his fastest lap time was deleted by the stewards.
The two decisions serve as a reminder of the fine margins at play in Formula 2, where on-track battles frequently spill into the stewards' room â and where post-race time penalties can prove just as decisive as anything that happens on circuit.
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.