Chasing The Dream | 2026 Belgian Grand Prix | F2 Behind The Scenes

Spa is one of those mystical tracks that you don't think is real until you come to it and then you... Wow, you know? Raphael Villagomez, welcome to Spa-Francorchamps. Summer in Spa usually is not exactly looking like this. Yeah, a beautiful day. The first time I come here and it's sunny actually. It's cool. Back to a track where I got my first pole position and first win in single-seaters. So, exciting and it's one of those historical tracks. We've got probably the greatest corner behind us, Melrose. So, I just want to get going now. I think it's one of the best tracks in the world. Very iconic to say the least. I think Spa has got everything that a track needs. You know, I think high speed, low speed, innovation changes. We never know what to expect from this track. What's my dream? Everyone's dream is Formula 1, you know. You can walk in this paddock and ask anyone and it's... Yeah, it's what we all watched since we were kids, you know. Alex has definitely been one of my biggest role models growing up. When I go back to Thailand now, the amount of supporters I have or even people that watch Formula 1 is amazing. So, I hope that I can kind of have the same path as him one day. But yeah, Formula 1 is a dream. Nikola Tsolov, three wins in a row. The hat trick that no one had ever done in Formula 2. Feels great. Obviously, it's not something we expected coming into the year. But, you know, we're just improving every weekend, focusing on the things we need to. The weekend is very ruthless, you know. The level of the drivers and the teams now, to get into that top ten, it isn't easy. And you really need to work hard for this. There's a lot of noise in the paddock and you can get your head messed up and you can focus on the wrong things. So, I think focusing on myself and trying to do the best possible job for myself is the best thing I can do this weekend. Can you catch? Every time that we come here now, we're remembering Antoine. Antoine is still very much a part of our family, of the F2 family. And it's a great thing that Pierre Gasly is organizing that run every year and invites us to participate because we just want to make sure that Antoine's legacy is going to live on. It's a moment to reflect on what he has done in Formula 2 and the categories before that. And also make sure that his family knows that he's not forgotten. I think I've been able to extract in all aspects what we need. Obviously, the only thing we're missing right now is qualifying. So, that's the only thing I'm looking forward to, actually. I think this year with the team we're doing a good job at predicting or knowing what's to come for qualifying. Rain is falling, the ponchos are out, track looking damp out there and immediately a critical tyre call to make for the drivers. We've only had around 20 to 30 minutes to make that decision. I've got severe hot hair. Alex Dunne, his last pole position in Formula 2, came here at Spa in 2025. Do they go out there on a wet tyre and try and get a lap in? Or do they go straight for their first set of super softs? Or do they do what some of them appear to be doing? Absolutely nothing. We have a line of Formula 2 cars all leaving the pit lane at the optimum time to do what is one of the most enjoyable things of the Formula 2 year. A qualifying lap around Spa is the stuff that dreams are made of. This is looking really good from the Bulgarian driver. Currently in third place, his teammate Noel Leon is ahead. Will go to provisional pole for Rapa Camera. Behind his teammate getting a tow from Joshua Dirksen. Looking very quick up to the line he goes. Pole position for Rapa Camera. Xanapol, Intrapuvozac, a brilliant first sector. Intrapuvozac up to second. Rapa Camera who takes his fourth pole position in Formula 2. Xanapol in pole position. Four, four, four. Yeah, intense quali. First deciding wet, I mean slicks or wet. And then, yeah, went slicks. Then after the rain stopped so it was a bit more easy to know what to do. It was very intense for the drivers. What happens if I swear on chasing the dream? I will bleep it, yeah. Cool. Three of the last rounds qualifying inside the top ten. P6 twice and now P2. So I'm really happy. I'm starting to get more and more consistent. So, yeah, let's see what we can do in the races now. I think I just feel in a really good place at the moment with the team. I'm very confident with the car. I just have a very good feeling. Talking through qualifying, how was that? Yeah, I mean, same **** different day. We've been P3, P2, P4 every weekend. So, yeah, I think in the end P3 is not too bad. But we've been there so many times, I'd like a little bit more. Your kit, do you have it on? Racing suit and the T-shirt? I think to be a racing man. Can you say football and smile a little bit? I hate when you put your thumbs up, you know. You are the worst. Okay, we're done. Come on. The best thing from the week. So, for the final, I always said that the final win is the one that I wanted the most. I think it will be a tough match for sure. Let's see. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Welcome everyone to Sprint Race Saturday at Spa. This is always one of the most exciting races of the season. So get ready. It's a huge challenge for these drivers. And that's what's going to be in their mind as they're sat on the grid. If you fall off the cliff of the tyre at Spa, you're in big trouble. We've got a green flag at the back, Chris. Green flag at the back. To the right of screen is Martinius Stensch. On to the left, your pole sitter, Sebastian Montoya. And we are going for the Sprint Race here in Round 8. A very poor start from the blue dams car of Roman Belinsky on the second row. As they charge their way down towards Eau Rouge and Radeon. And it's Sebastian Montoya leading the way going up the hill. That one of the best scenes of the season. The battle is going to go for the lead in towards Les Combes. And Stenschon takes it all the way around the outside to put himself into the lead of the race. Lap 2. No DRS this time. So, half race control waiting for just one more. And then all hell will be let loose because these drivers have a massively powerful system under their control. Weaving is Sebastian Montoya. But Joshua Dirksen has the line down the outside. And Sebastian Montoya struggling on the brakes once again as Joshua Dirksen goes around the outside of Les Combes and puts himself into second place. Whoa, now. Ritomo Miata. That was sketchy. Got an AIX off. Kean Shields has spun round just on the entry to Malmedy there. And this will be a safety car. Stenshon is going to take us back to racing speed. And it's DRS open for Dirksen who's going to find a gap on the inside there. Stenshon knows there's absolutely nothing he can do. And that's just how powerful the DRS is. Whoa, huge spin coming through Blanchimon there for John Bennett. John Bennett, just a spin. Joshua Dirksen with Stenshon behind. He's got to be careful of this weaving, Alex. He's caught Stenshon napping there ever so slightly. Solov going for a big move there on Sebastian Montoya. What a move from the championship leader. And Alex Dunn around the outside takes the place away from Montoya. What racing in Formula 2 on this restart. Joshua Dirksen heading through the final chicane. He started this season on the top step of the podium down under. And now he will return there with a win here at Spa. Joshua Dirksen takes the chequered flag first. Finally, mate. I knew I could win this. Finally a result that we deserve. Finally we can show again what we can do. Joshua Dirksen puts himself back on the top step. Finally back on the podium. Finally back on the top step. It's been a long time. Very difficult race weekends. But finally we could get it all together and gather a good result. It's nice to be back on the podium. It's been a tough couple of rounds recently. Mentally and so on. It's been quite tough. Right now I'm a bit nervous. But I think it's good to feel a bit of nerves before the race. Can he become the first tyre driver to take a podium in Formula 2 since Alex Albon at Sochi in 2018? It will be Brazilian driver Rafa Camara who will lead us away from pole position. Looking to make it four wins in a row for Invicta Racing. They lasted the clean sweep here last year. Alex, can they do so again and make it four in a row? 25-lap feature race coming up here at Spa. To the right of screen to Santa Pau in Trapuvezac. To the left, Jura Aramco, pole sitter Rafa Camara. And we are go for the Round 8 feature race. We've got a staller. That's Dino Viganovic. To Santa Pau in Trapuvezac. Has chance to win to the lead. One of the Alpine juniors there making contact with Roman Belinsky. We've got to move to the lead. Camara to the left of screen there going by in Trapuvezac. Oh, big crash. Van Hoopen. Rafa Camara. The Brazilian finds his way to the front. Invicta Racing did the double with Leo Fornaroli and Roman Stanek here last year. And it's going to be the same this year. Joshua Dirksen won the sprint. It's Rafa Camara who takes his second feature race win. Tony, pole position. Fastest lap of the race. And race win. Feels good now. Relieved. Really good race. My first podium. I'm really happy to finally get Thailand onto the podium. And finally get the result that the team deserves. We lacked a little bit of pace. But, you know, you're going to have weekends like that. On the other hand, luck was on our side. So, I think that was a good point. And, yeah, we just take it. We move on. I think taking 20 points is a really good thing. I feel very happy. The team did a very good job. Not only a very good team, but also a very good person. You're working together. And I think this will make it so special in the end. And why you are here. Why you're working so hard to get the maximum you can. So, very happy with that. And all eyes on Budapest.