The Supersized F2 weekend in Baku
This weekend we headed to Baku for the twelfth round of the Formula 2 2026 championship. With only 3 race weekends left to go, and a two-month break after this round, drivers Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. of AIX Racing, and Ritomo Miyata of Hitech TGR, spoke to the press about how they felt about their seasons so far and their expectations for the remainder of the championship.
Why is this weekend different?
The FIA announced that this weekend in Baku would take the supersized format, consisting of an additional qualifying session and two feature races. When asked how this would change the way they prepare for the round, and their thoughts on the new format, both Fittipaldi and Miyata agreed that the extra track time would be interesting and exciting. Fittipaldi was eager to have the “extra experience” with the circuit, as it would be his first time racing in Baku. The AIX Racing driver said it should be “exciting for everyone.” The drivers were also asked how demanding they believed the weekend would be, as the circuit is already quite challenging. Miyata placed emphasis on the importance of qualifying, but also claimed it would be very challenging. Fittipaldi agreed, calling the circuit a “very difficult and technical track.” However, the Brazilian driver also expressed excitement about having “one extra chance to show ourselves to the world.”
Reflecting on their seasons
Both Emerson Fittipaldi and Ritomo Miyata had their best results of the season so far last weekend in Madrid, with Fittipaldi finishing P2 in the sprint and P5 in the feature race, and Miyata winning the sprint and P3 in the feature race. When asked why they thought that was, Miyata attributed it to lots of preparation and a good result in qualifying. Fittipaldi gave credit to the hard work his whole team puts in, and what can happen when “everything comes together.” He also discussed how big of a “turning point” he felt Madrid was in his career, both confidence and team-wise. The hybrid circuit seemed to have suited them, as both expressed their preference for street circuits and the challenge they bring.
The AIX driver and Hitech TGR driver also reflected on their Formula 2 experience and how they’ve grown as drivers. Ritomo Miyata, in his third season of Formula 2, still struggles with the differences in tyres, tracks, and adapting to the English language and culture change. He highlighted his relationship with teammate Colton Herta and how working with the former IndyCar driver helps him to better understand the European circuits and culture. Emerson Fittipaldi also has someone to help with adjusting to the tracks — his father, a two-time Formula One world champion. As it is the 19-year-old Brazilian’s first season in Formula 2, he says his experienced father and team help a lot, both “physically and mentally.”
Looking Ahead
With a two-month break looming ahead, and just three rounds left of the 2026 championship, the drivers were asked about their mindsets going ahead, and what else they hoped to accomplish this season. Fittipaldi discussed how he feels he “learns every time he goes on track,” and the kinds of behind-the-scenes prep he’d be doing during the break to continue learning. He included karting and sim work as strategies to keep focused and working when he can’t be in the car. He also mentioned the importance of simulator work for his rookie season, especially when it came to tracks that were new to all drivers, and how doing extra sim work helped to level the playing field with those more experienced drivers.
While Miyata expressed disappointment with the beginning of his season, he seemed pleased with his performance in the second half, and emphasized the need for “clean drives” and “scoring points” in the rest of the season. He also mentioned doing simulator work over break, but recognized the need to take a break from thinking about racing. As for the rest of the season, the Japanese driver hopes to “keep up the good momentum.” The drivers had varying focuses for the weekend ahead, Fittipaldi wanting to focus on using the extra race to gain more information to better himself as a driver, and Miyata wanting to focus on achieving a top 10 finish in qualifying and scoring points, as he currently sits 12th in the championship standings. They also emphasized the importance of a good first qualifying session, as you need to finish the first to compete in the second.
How did the weekend end for Fittipaldi and Miyata?
While Miyata started the weekend promisingly, with a P8 finish in the practice session and P11 in both qualifying sessions, it ended in heartbreak as he suffered a DNF in all three races of the weekend after contact in the sprint and first feature race, and a mechanical issue in the second feature race which forced him to retire the car. Fittipaldi qualified P18 in both sessions, and held that position in the sprint, crossing the line in P18. He had a good result in the first feature race, finishing P12, and finished P16 in the second feature race. While Miyata’s result will be disappointing for the driver hoping for “clean races” and scoring points, Fittipaldi should be happy with his result, and will have gained valuable insight on the circuit, to be used to improve in the remaining two rounds of 2026.
