Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov Wins Thriller in Miami, Secures Second Straight Formula 2 Victory

Nikola Tsolov delivered a standout performance in Miami, securing his second consecutive victory in Formula 2 after winning the sprint race in dramatic fashion. The Bulgarian driver, often referred to as the “Bulgarian Lion,” capitalized on the reverse-grid format, which placed him on pole position following his tenth-place result in qualifying. Despite earlier technical issues that limited his running in free practice, he managed to turn the weekend around with a composed and aggressive race.

From the start, Tsolov held off strong pressure from Laurens van Hoepen, who remained within DRS range for much of the opening laps. The fight for position intensified when Joshua Dürksen briefly moved into second, only to lose ground after a mistake, allowing van Hoepen to rejoin the battle for the lead. Tsolov showed control early on, but small errors midway through the race, including running wide, briefly opened the door for his rival. At one point, van Hoepen managed to overtake, but Tsolov responded quickly, reclaiming the position with a decisive move and setting up a fierce exchange between the two.

Over several laps, the lead changed hands multiple times, with both drivers pushing to the limit. The contest reached its peak in the closing stages. On the final lap, Tsolov was overtaken again, but remained close and launched a perfectly timed counterattack in the final corners. He kept his composure and struck back when it mattered most, as the move secured him victory by a narrow margin of just over a tenth of a second.

Alex Dunne was also drawn into the fight near the end, taking advantage of the battle ahead but ultimately finishing third. With this result, Tsolov not only claimed his second win of the season, following his earlier success in Australia, but also strengthened his position at the top of the Formula 2 standings, opening a nine-point lead over van Hoepen.

Looking ahead, the main race in Miami is scheduled for 19:30 Bulgarian time, where Kush Maini will start from pole position. Tsolov, set to begin from tenth on the grid, remains well placed to continue his strong run of form.