Spielberg victory ‘best day of my life’ after tough couple of seasons says Bennett

John Bennett has been reflecting on the first part of the season, including his maiden FIA Formula 2 victory at the Red Bull Ring which he felt was a “long time coming”.

The TRIDENT driver has had impressive moments so far this year, including in the Spielberg Sprint Race – where he pulled off a final lap overtake on Sebastián Montoya to take the win.

Recently reflecting on that Saturday in Austria, Bennett was happy to finally get a good result having had a few unlucky moments to start the campaign.

“It was an incredible feeling,” said Bennett reflecting on standing on the top step of the podium. “It was probably the best day of my life, to be honest.

“It was amazing to finally get that first race win in Formula 2, it had been a long time coming, and it felt really good to finally have a result that I can show on paper.

“We've shown a lot of pace all year but things just haven't quite got across the finish line. Like in Miami, we were P3 in the Feature, really fighting for a top five, and then we had an issue in the pit lane.

“Canada, we were P4 in both races before two DNFs. There's been a lot of things this year that haven't quite gone our way. But following that result in the Barcelona Feature, finishing seventh from 18th and with the fastest lap, that was the first step in the right direction.

“Then to back it up with a win at the Red Bull Ring was really good. We we've shown a lot of potential this year, so to finally get a solid result definitely means a lot for me and the team.”

It is Bennett’s second season in F2 after a rookie campaign during which he scored just one point in the Monza Feature Race, where he finished in P10.

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The British driver admits he was unsure whether he would get another chance to race in the championship but is delighted to have the chance with TRIDENT in 2026.

“It's been really good,” said Bennett on working with TRIDENT. “I had a tricky year last year and then towards the end of the season, we weren't so sure where we were going to go, or if we could even stay in Formula 2.

“Then the deal with TRIDENT came out at the very last minute. We thought it was worth a go. TRIDENT had a tricky year last year, but during testing there was a good feeling in the team. I could see how hard they work. It felt like we were on an upwards trajectory.

“In the end the risk has sort of paid off. We’ve been strong all year both myself and the team, and I think we just keep on getting better every week. So right now there's a very good atmosphere in the team, and I'm very happy with where I am.”

Bennett also reflected on his rookie season in 2025, and he spoke about how tough it was mentally. It was especially so as he made the step up after a positive year in the GB3 Championship where he achieved 11 podiums and finished second in the Drivers’ Standings.

“It's been mentally very, very tough,” admitted Bennett. “I'm quite proud of myself in the way that I always kept pushing, kept working hard, knowing that eventually it will turn around. But it has been very mentally tough.

“I joined Formula 2 off the back of a very strong season in GB3 where I was on the podium every race weekend that year. Then I had some very strong results in the F3 testing, which then got me this last-minute move to Formula 2, and that went very well at first too.

“I was P8 in the first ever Feature Race I did. But then from that point on I felt like I got a bit lost. I didn't really know what the car wanted from me, so last season was very tricky. Coming off the back of such a successful year, it was for sure tough mentally.

“This year has given me a lot more motivation, like a fresh start, and as I said, we've been showing pace, but the result never got there, which again was very tough to take. But I knew that eventually it'll come.

“So winning at the Red Bull Ring was like a reward for all the work over the past two years.”

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But there is still more racing to come in 2026, and Bennett will head to Monza next weekend for Round 10. He is currently 18th in the Standings but feels he and TRIDENT deserve to be higher for their efforts.

“I still have a lot of work to do in the championship,” added Bennett. “I think we're quite a lot further down than where we should be. So that's the main goal right now.

“It's just about consistently picking up those points and moving up in the order. At the end of the day, I want to chase more podiums and wins.”