F2 Melbourne: Dino Beganovic vs Rafael Camara — Fighting for a Ferrari F1 Seat In 2026
Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara are ready to battle at the Australian GP this weekend, but could this F2 fight determine the future Scuderia landscape?
Although this is an unofficial battle that only us Ferrari fans get to enjoy, it’s actually one of the most underappreciated storylines heading into the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. Both Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara are Formula 2 drivers, meaning they are technically one series away from entering Formula 1. However, the two competitors are part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, meaning if they do progress into F1, they will probably be in a Ferrari.
When I say they will probably be in a Ferrari, an immediate jump into the seat of a Scuderia isn’t that likely. It’s more probable that the F2 drivers would have a stint at a Ferrari customer team like Haas before entering the Ferrari paddock. However, I highly doubt that Ferrari would promote both drivers to Formula 1 simultaneously, meaning the battles between Beganovic and Camara in the 2026 F2 season could be enormously important for the future of the Scuderia…
Why The Dino Beganovic vs Rafael Camara Battle Is Important For Ferrari
As mentioned, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy supports both Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara, meaning we have two entries to follow during the 2026 Formula 2 season. This is great news from a Ferrari standpoint, as having two competitive young drivers competing in the same series gives us fans and the team a rare opportunity to evaluate our future talent. Now, Beganovic certainly has an advantage over Camara, with the Swedish-Bosnian driver having more experience in F2 and also testing experience in Formula 1. But his Brazilian rival is not to be overlooked!
Rafael Camara joins Formula 2 as the reigning Formula 3 champion, and since his arrival, the Brazilian is already posing a threat to Beganovic’s future. During the final testing day in Barcelona, Camara was actually considerably faster than his F2 rival. On Day 3 of testing, Camara set a fastest time of 1:23.252, while Beganovic’s time was 1:24.058. Obviously, this was just a testing session, but it shows that the Brazilian driver should already be competitive in an F2 car, which could be bad news for Beganovic.
I have already discussed Dino’s natural advantage over Rafael this season given his experience in F2. However, despite this experience, he is yet to make an impact in the series. In his first full season in Formula 2, Beganovic finished seventh in the overall standings, with one win and four podiums in 27 races. This isn’t a bad season, but it’s not great either. And when you look at the Swedish-Bosnian driver’s F3 career, Camara once again gets the better of him. The Brazilian is the current Formula 3 champion, but Beganovic never won the F3 Drivers’ Championship despite spending two seasons in F3 with Prema Racing. Yet, this lack of silverware hasn’t halted Dino’s career, with the F2 driver gaining Scuderia Ferrari test driver status in 2025.
I think the fact that Dino Beganovic is also a Ferrari test driver in 2026, will fuel Camara to outshine his Ferrari Driver Academy teammate. If the Brazilian can finish higher than seventh, or higher than Beganovic in the F2 standings, I don’t see how Beganovic can continue to progress past his teammate. Now, this may seem harsh on Dino, but I’m also a fan of his. I want to see Ferrari win Constructors’ World Championships, and we can only do that with the best drivers. So if Beganovic is crowned the Formula 2 Drivers’ Champion in 2026, I want him to be the next Ferrari star. In an ideal world, this “rivalry” will inspire both drivers to fight hard all season for a spot in Formula 1, because at the end of the day, they are both Ferrari Academy drivers, meaning there is no reason that they can’t both compete for the Scuderia in the future.
Lewis Hamilton will also play a big factor in this battle, as he isn’t getting any younger. Of course, the seven-time F1 Drivers’ World Champion has only recently joined Ferrari, but we always have to be thinking about the future. Beganovic or Camara could realistically be sitting where Hamilton is in a few seasons’ time if they impress during the 2026 F2 season. I know Oliver Bearman has often been linked with a Ferrari move, but I’m not eager for this to happen as I’m yet to see anything impressive from the British driver during his Formula 1 career. If I had to choose today between Bearman, Beganovic, or Camara, I would 100% choose one of the F2 drivers. But that’s just my opinion, I know some people seem to like the idea of Bearman joining Ferrari, especially the Sky Sports F1 commentators…
2026 F2 Australian Grand Prix Schedule
If you want to follow along with the Formula 2 battle between Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara in Melbourne, see below for the full Formula 2 Australian Grand Prix schedule:
*Track Time is based on the local AEDT time zone.
Click here to view the full 2026 F1, F2, and F3 Australian Grand Prix Schedule and here for my Melbourne GP predictions.
Who do you think will come out on top in Melbourne, Beganovic or Camara? Let me know in the comments below!
