Noel Leon was disqualified from the Formula 2 Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps.
A team guest used the wrong radio headset during the stoppage. The breach removed Leon from the final classification and brought a suspended sanction for Campos Racing.
An unauthorised headset triggered the decision
The incident occurred during the red-flag period in Sunday’s Feature Race. A non-operational person wore a headset fitted with a microphone in the pit lane. That equipment was not permitted for the person’s role under the applicable radio rules.
Campos told the stewards that the person was a team guest. The representative said the guest had taken the wrong type of headset by mistake. The explanation established how the equipment reached the guest. It did not remove the team’s responsibility for compliance.
The stewards stated that teams must control radio equipment given to guests. That duty also covers other non-operational personnel. The rule separates authorised operational communication from access allowed to visitors. The decision treated the headset itself as the decisive breach.
Investigators connected the guest exclusively with Leon’s car number five. The stewards therefore limited the disqualification to Leon. Nikola Tsolov’s result for the same team remained in place. Tsolov had spoken to the stewards because Leon had already left the circuit.
Leon had crossed the line seventh after a five-second track-limits penalty. The disqualification removed that position and its points. Drivers behind him moved up in the amended classification.
Camara had won after regaining the net lead from Leon following the red flag. Inthraphuvasak finished second after the time penalties were applied. Tsolov took third. Alexander Dunne fell to fourth, while Gabriele Mini was classified fifth.
Campos received a suspended team sanction
Campos Racing received a suspended sporting sanction. It will only take effect if the team repeats the same breach during the season.
Campos remained first in the teams’ standings after the Spa weekend.
Leon’s removal and Campos’ conditional team sanction were recorded separately.
Dino Beganovic faced a separate start procedure investigation. Video and telemetry showed his rear tyres spinning after the third start light. His car also moved before the signal that released the field.
The stewards applied a five-second time penalty. Their notice described it as the lowest available penalty for the offence. Beganovic then stalled and was pushed into the pit lane. He retired from the race and did not reach the classified finish.
The penalty records Beganovic’s confirmed start violation. It remains separate from Leon’s disqualification.
The red flag explains when the breach occurred
Laurens van Hoepen crashed during the Feature Race. Officials stopped the session while the damaged car and barrier area were cleared.
Leon had completed his mandatory stop under the earlier Safety Car. That sequence placed him ahead of Camara in the net order. Camara later passed around the outside at La Source. Leon stayed in the leading group before receiving a track-limits penalty.
The original Spa classification was led by Rafael Camara’s Formula 2 victory.
The equipment breach occurred beside car five during the stoppage. The sanction removed Leon from the race result.
Leon lost his place in the amended classification
| Driver | Noel Leon |
|---|---|
| Decision | Disqualified from the Feature Race |
| Reason | Unauthorised radio headset use |
| Team | Campos Racing |
Nikola Tsolov left Spa as the championship leader. Rafael Camara gained ground with his victory. Leon remained behind the leading group after losing his finish.
Campos still led the teams’ championship after Spa. Rodin, MP Motorsport and Invicta remained the closest challengers in the amended table.
Formula 2 continues at the Hungaroring. Campos carry the suspended sanction into that round.
Two investigations produced different sanctions
The stewards heard Campos representative evidence after the race. Tsolov attended because Leon had left the circuit.
The guest was linked only with car five. That finding kept Tsolov’s third place in the classification.
Beganovic drove car seven for DAMS. Video and telemetry showed movement after the third start light.
His five-second penalty was the lowest option available for that offence. His retirement left no classified time to adjust.
Both stewarding decisions were issued after the Feature Race at Spa.
The case concerned access to team radio during a stopped race. Only authorised personnel may use equipment connected to operational communications.
The guest used a headset assigned for team communication. That created a breach even though Leon was not accused of choosing the equipment.
Stewards separated the driver classification from the team sanction. Leon lost his result, while Campos received a suspended sporting penalty.
A suspended sanction does not remove points immediately. It remains active if the same team repeats the relevant breach.
The decision also shows why radio control continues during red flags. Teams still receive operational messages while cars wait in the pit lane.
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