Roman Staněk delivered a defining moment in his career by securing pole for the F2 Hungary GP 2025 Feature Race. The Invicta Racing driver edged out teammate Leonardo Fornaroli by 0.146 seconds, with Jak Crawford qualifying third to complete a dominant Invicta 1–2.
Stanek’s journey to pole
Staněk showed his maturity and control to seal his first-ever Formula 2 pole on one of the most technical circuits on the calendar.
“Thank you, it feels good. First pole in F2, it took me three years. It feels good, I wasn’t expecting it after waking up this morning,” he said.
“I had some health issues. Very happy, happy for the team, for Leo, that we managed to do P1 and P2.”
Spa momentum continues — rain could play key role
Coming off a dramatic victory in the Spa Feature Race the weekend prior, Staněk has found timely form. With Hungary’s notoriously unpredictable weather looming over Sunday’s race. He was clear-eyed about the potential advantages of starting at the front for the sprint.
“Yeah let’s see first tomorrow in the race what the conditions will be, it might rain also on Sunday. The rain was not too bad in Spa.”
“For sure it’s a big luxury because you don’t get the spray, P1 is a good place to start in case it rains. We will focus race by race, and do my best as always, as we did today and as I did in Spa,” he continued.
Chemistry at Invicta Racing driving results
Beyond individual talent, Staněk credits Invicta Racing’s strong internal dynamic for the recent upswing in performance. His working relationship with teammate Leonardo Fornaroli has been a key asset throughout the season.
He added on his relationship with his teammate, “Since the beginning of the season we have been working really well. I’ve known Leo a long time from TRIDENT.”
Staněk countiued by praising the champion, “Obviously he has won the F3 Championship, I have learnt a lot from him and I think he has learnt a lot from me. We have been working very hard and very well, on the simulator outside of the races and during the race weekend as well.”
Session recap: precision and timing key for pole
Staněk led from the outset with a clean early banker lap, but it was his final flying effort that made the difference, a 1:28.779 that edged out Fornaroli by less than two tenths. Jak Crawford pushed hard in the final sector but couldn’t bridge the gap, settling for third.
Hungary’s high-downforce layout demands exacting technique and tyre management, and Staněk delivered both under pressure. His consistency and focus were particularly impressive given his earlier health concerns.
What’s next for Staněk at the F2 Hungary GP 2025?
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Feature Race, Staněk finds himself in a prime position to challenge for back-to-back wins and to close the gap in the championship standings. Rain is likely to factor in, but Staněk has already proven he can thrive in changing conditions.
