Cian Shields aiming to utilise team balance and experience in second F2 campaign

Cian Shields is back with AIX Racing in 2026, and the Scotsman was pleased to be staying put as he eyes a step forward this season in FIA Formula 2.

He competed in his rookie campaign in the Championship last year, gaining valuable experience in the car alongside an FP1 appearance for the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team.

Speaking ahead of the season, Shields said he was eager to utilise those experiences in 2026 to make a step in competitiveness.

“I’m definitely feeling more prepared than last year. Obviously, it's now the second year in F2, so the experience of all the tracks we've been to and having driven the car there, it definitely helps.

“There's a bit more expectation for me to perform, a bit more pressure on that side of things but, overall, I'm really looking forward to the year.”

Reflecting on his initial experience of F2 back during the post-season tests of 2024 and comparing those to the tests following last season, he could appreciate the huge differences a year of driving in F2 had made.

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The AIX driver says that it meant he and the team could dedicate the three days to achieving more car performance rather than building up mileage in what was a new car to him over a year ago.

“The post-season test in ‘24 - I'd only done two rounds previous, so a lot of it was still new to me driving-wise and I was still learning the car and getting to grips with Abu Dhabi.

“In 2025, we were actually able to work a bit more on the car itself and prepare more for the year ahead. We could do a bit more development with the car rather than focus more on the driving.”

Looking at his and the team’s work last season overall, Shields believes there was good progress between the start and the end of the 2025 campaign as both parties understood how the other works much better.

Looking at his and the team’s work last season overall, Shields believes there was good progress between the start and the end of the 2025 campaign as both parties understood how the other works much better.

He says that the familiarity will count for more performance this time around and added that points on the board early in the campaign would be the focus in 2026.

“I think we have a good team behind us and while there's a few personnel changes, overall, I was happy with the people I had around me last year.

“We have a pretty good balance as a team, and I think we'll be able to work well throughout the year.

“Anything can happen in F2, so it's kind of difficult to set a goal, but obviously everyone wants to do the best that they can. That's the main focus and a good haul of points in the first few rounds is how we want to start the season.”