Robert Shwartzman kept alive his slim chances of clinching the FIA Formula 2 title by winning the Sprint Race in Bahrain.
The Russian led from reverse-grid pole and remained untroubled until the chequered flag to take his fourth win of the season.
Nikita Mazepin was second and also mathematically still in the championship, while Louis Deletraz had a brilliant drive from 16th on the grid to third and bagging the points for the fastest lap.
Marcus Armstrong was fourth ahead of Guanyu Zhou and Christian Lundgaard.
Mick Schumacher was seventh but he at least extended his gap to Ilott, who crossed the line a lowly 16th following a collision with Jehan Daruvala at Turn 10 on Lap 8. That earned the Brit a drive-through penalty and out of contention for points.
Yesterday’s Sprint Race winner Felipe Drugovich took the final point in eighth, while a right-rear puncture on the opening lap saw Red Bull junior driver Yuki Tsunoda down in 15th.
The race for the title sees Mick Schumacher have a 14-point lead margin over Ilott going into the final round of the campaign next weekend, while Mazepin is third and 43 points off the top, Shwartzman 46 and Tsunoda 48 behind with only a maximum of 48 left on the table.
The F2 grid will compete for the last time in 2020 on the Sakhir Grand Prix weekend.
