‘I’m up for the challenge’ – Varrone on seizing the chance to race in F2 with VAR

Nico Varrone is aiming to be as competitive and fast as possible after making the big decision to switch to single seaters and FIA Formula 2 in 2026.

The Van Amersfoort Racing driver kicked off his rookie season in F2 earlier this month in Melbourne. He ran at the front of the field in the Feature Race until different circumstances caused him dropped down the field, and he finished 17th.

It was a promising start for Varrone, who is making the switch over from endurance racing where he has had a successful career – which included winning at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023.

Speaking prior to the season getting underway, Varrone explained why it was the right time for a change.

“My career is a bit different from other drivers here,” he started. “When I was younger, I couldn't keep up with the money and the sponsorship need to keep going in single seaters.

“Luckily, I ended up in endurance racing and it gave me a really nice career, winning some great races and doing some great things. I was really happy and I loved it.

“But when the F2 chance comes, it is something you need to do. If it comes, you need to go for it because it doesn't happen two times. If it was not now, it was not going to be in three or four years.

“When the chance came up, I said I'm up for it, I'm up for the challenge. I know it's going to be a big change for me in a lot of things. Not only driving the car, but there are a lot of stuff that I need to learn.

“I think in life if you don't go for it, you never know what will happen in the end. I would never want to go all my life without taking that chance. That's how I decided. Some people were willing to help me with sponsors to get here and then I was like let's go for it.”

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Varrone had previous experience in an F2 car before the start of his stint with VAR, having done a day of running at the end of season test in Abu Dhabi back in 2024.

The 25-year-old revealed what he has been having to adapt to both inside and outside of the car with the change in discipline.

“It's a really different car,” he explained. “You have to drive it really differently in a lot of ways. It's still a race car, but the little things that make a lot of difference are the tyres.

“Also, for me, the feeling in the car is different. It was quite nice to have three days in Abu Dhabi to get a feel for it.

“The three days in Barcelona were also great, so that we can keep chipping away and trying to feel more natural with the car. That's what I'm missing at the moment.”

Varrone’s focus over the winter was on getting ready for the 2026 campaign, but he also has other duties in endurance racing that he had to keep on top off.

For the VAR driver, it has been a few months of change in his life, but it is exactly what he wants.

“It's been physical training, but also, I'm still doing endurance races,” he said of his winter. “I'm a factory driver for Corvette, so I had the Daytona 24, and we did that with the GT in GTD Pro. My January was filled with that.

“There was not a lot of time to have time off. I tried to keep training, but obviously, racing 24 hours keeps you in the loop and practicing, even if it's in a different car.

“So I’ve been up to that, as well as training, racing, and also moving to Europe, to Madrid, where I'm staying now, all in one go, so it's been great. A lot of big changes.

“It's a year of changes, which feels really nice. In a lot of ways, it's busy, but we like it like that. Good things come from changes and going out of your comfort zone.”

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Varrone also showed a lot of promise in the pre-season test and also Round 1 in Melbourne, making a good start on his goal for the year.

“It's difficult sometimes in these championships,” said Varrone on setting goals for 2026. “Mostly, you don't have a lot of running to set goals because you never know. It's difficult to know where you are at until the races.

“For me it's about learning. Also, I will not have two years here to show. It's a bit of a mixed thing. I just want to be competitive.

“I always say in racing if you're competitive, if you're fast, if you're one of the guys in the front, then the results at some point will come. You don't need to force it.

“That's my goal. Try to be as competitive as possible, as fast as possible. For sure, the races or the results are a circumstance of things that have to go your way and sometimes, that don't go your way. That's the goal. Be competitive.”