The 2026 Formula 2 season kicked off with an exciting Sprint Race at the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, where Invicta Racing's Joshua Dürksen claimed a decisive victory.
Dürksen, starting from the front row, showcased his skills early in the race. Quickly overtaking Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, he maintained a strong lead to finish at the top of the podium. "I felt confident from the start and was able to execute our race strategy well," said Dürksen.
Claiming second place was Campos Racing's Noel Leon, who benefited from a solid performance throughout the race. "I’m pleased with the outcome, but there’s always room for improvement," Leon noted, emphasizing his determination as the season progresses.
Finishing third on the track was Alex Dunne from Rodin Motorsport. However, a five-second penalty issued to his teammate Martinius Stenshorne allowed Dunne to secure an unexpected podium. "We had some challenges, but I’m glad to have made the most of the situation," Dunne commented on the roller coaster of emotions.
Despite initially crossing the line in third, Stenshorne’s penalty saw him drop to tenth. This unexpected turn highlighted the competitive nature of F2 racing, where every second counts. "It’s tough to lose those points, but I’ll bounce back in the next race," Stenshorne expressed after the finish.
Inthraphuvasak, who started the race from a reverse grid pole position, ultimately placed fifth. Hitech's Ritomo Miyata rounded out the top five, showcasing the talent emerging from this season's lineup. "This is just the beginning; I’m looking forward to more races and pushing my limits," Miyata remarked afterward.
Debutant Colton Herta faced a challenging start to his F2 experience, finishing in 16th place. While it was not the result he hoped for, he remains optimistic about the future. "Every race is a learning opportunity. I’m excited to build on this experience moving forward," said Herta.
The completed results boosted hopes for many teams and drivers as the championship continues. The 2026 F2 Australian Sprint Race results were as follows:
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. | Joshua Dürksen | Invicta Racing | 10 | | 2. | Noel Leon | Campos Racing | 8 | | 3. | Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak | ART Grand Prix | 6 | | 4. | Alex Dunne | Rodin Motorsport | 5 | | 5. | Ritomo Miyata | Hitech | 4 | | 6. | Gabriele Mini | MP Motorsport | 3 | | 7. | Laurens van Hoepen | Trident | 2 | | 8. | Roman Bilinski | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1 | | 9. | Sebastian Montoya | Prema Racing | | | 10. | Martinius Stenshorne | Rodin Motorsport | | | 11. | Rafael Camara | Invicta Racing | | | 12. | Kush Maini | ART Grand Prix | | | 13. | Rafael Villagomez | Van Amersfoort Racing | | | 14. | Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. | AIX Racing | | | 15. | John Bennett | Trident | | | 16. | Colton Herta | Hitech | | | 17. | Nikola Tsolov | Campos Racing | | | 18. | Oliver Goethe | MP Motorsport | | | 19. | Cian Shields | AIX Racing | | | 20. | Dino Beganovic | DAMS Lucas Oil | | | 21. | Nicolas Varrone | Van Amersfoort Racing | | | DNF | Mari Boya | Prema Racing | |
This thrilling kickoff for the 2026 season sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating championship ahead. As teams prepare for the next race, attention will turn to how they adapt and strategize for the challenges to come, particularly in the dramatic atmosphere of Formula 2, where every point counts.