Roman Stanek on his mindset change, hitting a low in Barcelona and loving life at Invicta

Roman Stanek is having statistically his best ever season in Formula 2, and the Invicta Racing driver attributes that to a few changes.

Following two seasons in the second tier, during which he scored 29 points across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, Stanek is currently ninth in the Drivers’ Standings with 91 points after 12 rounds in 2025.

In addition to that, the Czech driver has achieved a maiden Feature Race victory, at Spa-Francorchamps, and Pole Position, at Budapest, and has scored four podiums in total.

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“It's good,” says Stanek when asked about his season. “Obviously, I have no complaints. I am racing at such a high level in Formula 2 with one of the best teams in the field, and also in the last few rounds, performing quite well.

“There is always something to improve, but I've been enjoying myself a lot. I am just happy to be here.”

A MUCH-NEEDED SWITCH TO INVICTA

Stanek spent his first two seasons in F2 with TRIDENT, and admitted that with results not going his way, he started to “question himself”.

However, the 21-year-old still looks back on his time with the Italian team fondly, saying he learned a lot both on and off the track. But a change in scenery to Invicta Racing gave him the “boost” he needed.

“After two years being with the same team, it was a nice change,” says Stanek on joining Invicta. “It was a new atmosphere, so it gave me a boost to want more, and it's been working quite well.

“The first part of the season was quite tricky. We didn't have so much luck and also, I made some mistakes, but I think I have proven that I have the speed and I am one of the top drivers in Formula 2.

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“I feel very lucky to be with Invicta. It's a great experience for me, I see the guys they work very hard, they know what they are doing, but at the same time, they enjoy it. They don't do it for the money, they do it because they actually like it, and I think this is one of the reasons why the team is so strong.

“We have mechanics that have been here for 10 years, and that makes them strong. If they have to change something quickly on the car, they don't even speak, they just look at each other and they understand what they mean.

“My mechanics, Nathan, and Josh, my engineer Colin, James, the Team Principal, Geoff - it's an honour to be with them. I don't want the season to stop because I do enjoy it with them, just having a very good time.”

OVERCOMING THE EARLY STRUGGLES

As mentioned, Stanek did not get his 2025 season off to the greatest of starts, with just four points finishes from the first five rounds – with a best result of P5 in the Melbourne and Jeddah Sprint Race.

But the Invicta driver revealed that it was at Barcelona where things came to a head, as after qualifying fourth, he fell through the field in the Feature Race, ending up in P11. Then came a reset and what followed was four podiums in the next four rounds.

“Before you see the data, you always ask yourself if it was you, if it was the car, or a combination of you and the car,” says Stanek. “But I've been working a lot, because in Barcelona I hit a low point of it’s actually me.

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“I did a great Qualifying, I was starting very well for both races. The Sprint Race, we forget it because of the Safety Car, it was a mess, but the Feature Race, I drove from P4 to outside of the points in the race.

“I hit a low point there. I reset everything, turned the page, and started from zero. It seems to be working, and I've been enjoying things a lot.”

SHIFTING HIS MINDSET

When talking about his improved performance, Stanek immediately remarks: “One thing I have to say is we know Invicta have a strong car, so it's not just me, it's the whole package, the team play a big part.”

But the Czech driver has also changed his approach, taking on a different mindset, not only for his race weekends, but also to his life outside of the car.

“As I am getting older, stuff is changing, and at some point, you realise that since I was 10, I have aimed to be in Formula 1,” Stanek explains.

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“I will do my best every day to get there. But today life is so good, it offers you so many opportunities, life is great, I am healthy, and there are just so many opportunities.

“30 years ago in Czech Republic we didn't have the chance to do this, but I realised from the beginning of the year, I don't have to put any pressure on myself because if you ask me what is going to happen tomorrow, I don't know.

“The only thing I can do is my best, which is going to sleep early, eating well, and doing good warmups. I am obsessed with yoga in the morning, so to focus on yourself in that moment. If something happens, it's out of my control, but I will do my best.

“If my best is first, I will take it. If my best is eighth, I will take it. I have been working with this mindset, not only in racing, but in life, and in business. It doesn't mean I don't care about racing, but you don't need extra pressure, just do your best at that exact moment.”

Doing his best is all Stanek wants to do with two rounds to go in 2025, as he says that is his only goal, making sure that he leaves with no regrets when it comes to his work ethic.

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“I just want to do my best,” Stanek adds. “I want to look back and say that any moment I have done what I could, not to look and say I could have done something different.

“There is always something you can do better but I want to look back and say I did my best in every session and every race.”