Five Formula 2 drivers to watch out for in 2026 including the son of seven-time F1 winner

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Formula 2 is starting to produce some strong talents that have made it to Formula 1, after a few years of stagnation.

Up until 2024, after George Russell won the title in 2018, no F2 champion made it immediately to F1 the following season, with little to no rookies making the step up in that time either.

But in 2025, six rookies found themselves on the grid, four of whom came from F2. They included the defending champion, Gabriel Bortoleto, who had won the Formula 3 title the year before, and Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

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In 2026, only one rookie will join the grid, with Arvid Lindblad making the step up from F2 with Racing Bulls. But with several contracts expiring at the end of the season, and with so much quality in F2 this year, there’s every chance that several new faces could join the grid.

With that said, here are five drivers that fans should keep an eye on during the 2026 Formula 2 season.

Colton Herta

Colton Herta is by far the driver that fans will be keeping an eye on the most. He has made the move over from IndyCar after Herta signed on as Cadillac’s test and reserve driver.

Clearly, the 11th F1 team have the American in their plans for the future, hence his move to F2. He is gunning for the championship and an FIA superlicence, which will put him in a position to replace either Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Perez down the line.

Herta’s talent is obvious to see, with eight IndyCar wins and a best finish of second in 2024. Joining Hitech, he has a strong team behind him, but the main question is whether his performance in North America can translate to the European stage.

READ MORE: ‘High potential’ Colton Herta told by Cadillac chief why his IndyCar strengths make him perfect for F1

Rafael Camara

Brazilian Rafael Camara is one of the hottest prospects in F2 in 2026. His junior career has been something to marvel at, and he could be even stronger next year.

Winning FRECA in 2024 with Prema, he joined Trident in Formula 3 in 2025 and wrapped up the title before the season finale. Camara claimed four wins and five podiums, beating Nikola Tsolov by 42 points.

Next season, he will be with Invicta Racing, who won the last two F2 titles with Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli, putting him in a great position to win F1’s feeder series titles back-to-back, a feat accomplished by the likes of Russell, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and Bortoleto.

Furthermore, he is part of the Ferrari academy, which, if his 2026 season goes well, could put Camara in line for an F1 seat in 2027. But he will have to keep his head and beat the competition, including his teammate.

Joshua Durksen

Invicta have elected for an all-new driver pairing in 2026, with Camara being joined by Joshua Durksen. He will be looking to make a step up after two impressive seasons in F2.

The Paraguayan skipped F3 straight to F2 in 2024 with AIX Racing, and immediately showed his potential. He won two races and grabbed four podiums, finishing 10th.

Durksen went even better in 2025, with two wins and eight podiums, finishing P9 in the standings. With the best team on the grid behind him in 2026, he could be capable of a championship challenge.

Sebastian Montoya

Sebastian Montoya will certainly have much more pressure on his shoulders to deliver. He has a big name to live up to, given he is the son of former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

The Colombian made his debut in F2 in 2025 with Prema. He had an inconsistent season, but did have some strong results, grabbing three podiums in Monaco, Barcelona and Silverstone.

A second season in the category could see an upturn in form for Montoya, and it could be a strong season as he stays with Prema alongside Aston Martin junior Mari Boya. But the pressure will be on, especially if he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and reach F1.

Nikola Tsolov

Camara’s F3 title rival, Nikola Tsolov, will also make the step up to F2 with Campos Racing. The Bulgarian driver comes to the category with great promise.

The 19-year-old made great improvements in F3 in 2025, finishing runner-up to Camara with two wins and six podiums. Tsolov made his F2 debut in the final two rounds of the season, replacing Pepe Marti after he made the switch to Formula E.

He immediately showed what talent he has by claiming his maiden podium in Abu Dhabi. Now landing a full-time seat in F2, Tsolov could be a serious contender in 2026 and could be in line for an F1 seat, being a Red Bull junior.