F2 Driver Stripped of Spa Result, Fined €20,000 After Guest's Radio Breach

Noel Leon has been stripped of seventh place in Sunday's FIA Formula 2 feature race at Spa-Francorchamps and handed a €20,000 fine because a Campos Racing team guest wore a radio headset fitted with a microphone, violating the series' strict communication rules.

Why it matters:

The ruling highlights the FIA's uncompromising stance on radio protocol enforcement in the feeder series. For Campos Racing, the loss of Leon's result and a 25-point deduction in the teams' standings is a painful blow at the midway point of the season, particularly with teammate Nikola Tsolov leading the championship fight.

The details:

• Stewards determined that a non-operational team guest wore a headset containing a microphone rather than the listen-only device mandated by Appendix 5 and Article 21.5 of the F2 sporting regulations.
• The guest mistakenly took the wrong headset, and when approached by a scrutineer who explained it was not permitted, the guest continued using it after claiming the microphone was folded upwards.
• The FIA document stressed that the team retains full responsibility for ensuring all guests comply with radio equipment rules, regardless of the individual's honest error.
• Leon had already left the circuit by the time of the hearing, which Tsolov and another Campos representative attended. The stewards confirmed the offence related exclusively to Leon's car.

What's next:

Leon holds fifth in the drivers' championship after eight rounds, while Tsolov enjoys a 27-point cushion over MP Motorsport's Gabriele Mini. The episode serves as a stark reminder across the F2 paddock that teams must exercise strict control over personnel and equipment, as even an inadvertent guest mistake can trigger severe sporting and financial penalties.