- Technical issue causes Swede to retire when chasing Feature Race win
- Sends early letter of intent with pole position and fastest lap in F2 season-opener
Dino Beganovic signalled his intentions as the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship got underway in Melbourne this weekend, contending for victory after powering to a commanding pole position in qualifying at Albert Park.
Beganovic laid down the early marker as the F2 field gathered in Australia to kick off the new season, storming to the fastest lap of the event – a 1m28.695s – as he topped the qualifying times by over two tenths of a second.
However, the opening round of the campaign also featured a cruel twist of fate as Beganovic was forced to retire from Sunday’s Feature Race with a technical issue when running in second place.
It marked a heartbreaking sequel to the Sprint Race a day prior, where the DAMS Lucas Oil driver had suffered a damaged front wing and fallen out of contention with an unscheduled pit stop for repairs.
At the time of his retirement in Sunday’s main event, Beganovic had battled back from a slow getaway from pole and reinstated himself in second, right behind the race leader. The Swede had also just set the fastest lap of the race – which would remain unbeaten – when he ground to a sudden halt running along Albert Park’s iconic Lakeside Drive.
“It was a really good weekend until it wasn’t, basically,” says Dino Beganovic. “It’s incredibly sad to leave Melbourne without the kind of results we deserved, and without any major points. I just suddenly lost power and the car stopped. It’s tough, but we also have to look at all the positives: my feeling with the car, my feeling with the team and all the hard work they have put in to make me feel at home.
“The pace has been clear to see this weekend in both qualifying and race trim, taking pole position and setting the fastest lap in the race today. It’s an encouraging start in pure performance. We take those positives, work on the bits we can still improve, and then we give it another go in the next race.”
While the opening round of the season ultimately ended in disappointment, Beganovic’s pole position at least netted him two championship points to open up his 2026 account.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship resumes in Bahrain on April 10-12.
RESULTS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
Rd. 1 – Melbourne (AUS)
Race 1 (Sprint Race)
1: J. Dürksen (PAR), Invicta Racing
2: N. León (MEX), Campos Racing
3: A. Dunne (IRE), Rodin Motorsport
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20: D. Beganovic (SWE), DAMS Lucas Oil
Race 2 (Feature Race)
1: N. Tsolov (BUL), Campos Racing
2: R. Câmara (BRA), Invicta Racing
3: L. van Hoepen (NED), Trident
—
DNF: D. Beganovic (SWE), DAMS Lucas Oil
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
After 1/14 rounds
1: N. Tsolov (BUL), Campos Racing, 25 p.
2: R. Câmara (BRA), Invicta Racing, 18 p.
3: L. van Hoepen (NED), 18 p.
4: R. Miyata (JPN), Hitech, 14 p.
5: T. Inthraphuvasak (THA), ART Grand Prix, 13 p.
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13: D. Beganovic (SWE), Hitech, 2 p.
