Frederik Vesti dominated the Formula 2 Sprint Race in wet conditions ahead of Theo Pourchaire and Jack Doohan.
The race began behind the Safety Car after two formation laps behind it in the wet conditions. As a result, the race distance was shortened from 21 to 19 laps.
Championship leader Frederik Vesti controlled the rolling start well, but the Safety Car returned at the end of Lap 1 following a crash for Brad Benavides at Turn 4. Championship protagonist Ayumu Iwasa was forced into the pitlane after the opening lap with a brake issue, dropping a lap down and effectively out of the running. Clement Novalak later received a five-second time penalty for a collision with Benavides.
Vesti once again managed the restart well while Prema teammate Ollie Bearman managed to take third place from Theo Pourchaire.
Bearman showed his intentions as he swiftly overtook Isaak Hadjar for second place with a well timed lunge at Stowe.
However, it was a short stay in second for Bearman who dropped back to third following a spin which allowed Hadjar back through. The Briton had gone from being the man on a charge, to a man under pressure as he found himself losing out further to Theo Pourchaire.
In the opening stages of the race, it appeared that Pourchaire didn’t have the pace to challenge for the podium positions. However, as the race unfolded it became clear that he was playing the long game and had preserved his wet tyres for an attack later in the race.
Pourchaire took second place from Hadjar after a calculated battle, while the tussle for fourth place heated up between Bearman and Jack Doohan.
The battle between Bearman and Doohan created a seven way battle for third. Bearman prevailed over Hadjar as Doohan had to wait another couple of laps before being reunited with Bearman on track.
However, disaster struck for Bearman when he went deep at the Club chicane trying to defend against Doohan. The mistake dropped the Prema driver to sixth after what could have been a safe podium finish.
As the chequered flag dropped, it was Vesti who emerged as victor after dominating in the wet conditions. Pourchaire, having escaped the battle behind, took second place ahead of Jack Doohan.
Enzo Fittipaldi held onto fourth ahead of Hadjar, Bearman and Victor Martins. Arthur Leclerc claimed the final point in eighth.
Discussion about this post