Dennis Hauger has won the Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Hungaroring with the championship battle closer than ever once the chequered flag flew.
Kush Maini got the jump on Dennis Hauger when the lights went out, however a lockup for Maini at Turn 1 opened the door for the Norwegian driver as well as fellow Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa.
The Prema of Oliver Bearman was also able to pass Maini in the opening stages, however Maini claimed the position back on Lap 3.
The field remained tight when DRS was made available with P3-P13 all circulating within one second of the driver ahead.
Out front, Hauger had begun to build a 1.5 second lead to the trailing Iwasa.
That gap would increase further after a brief Virtual Safety Car which was triggered by contact initiated by Clement Novalak who collided with Ralph Boschung. Dams driver Arthur Leclerc was also caught up in the incident, but was able to continue. Novalak and Boschung both retired.
When the VSC ended, Theo Pourchaire wasted no time in passing Bearman who was caught napping.
With less than ten laps remaining, drivers were able to push after nursing their tyres in the opening two thirds of the race.
Championship leader Frederik Vesti was circulating in ninth place, outside of the points. Pourchaire, who trailed Vesti by six points in the title battle, made a late lunge on Maini for third place with Bearman following the Frenchman through.
Third place for Pourchaire and a failure to score points for Vesti would mean that the two would be tied for the Championship lead headed into the Feature Race on Sunday.
However, Vesti’s teammate Bearman intervened, battling past Pourchaire to claim the final podium spot and quickly built a one second gap to the ART.
Iwasa had been closing the gap to Hauger, however the Norwegian was able to respond and rebuild his race lead.
Dennis Hauger claimed victory after an impressive drive, Iwasa and Bearman completed the podium.
Pourchaire would have to settle for fourth ahead of Daruvala, Maini and Martins. Isaak Hadjar claimed the final point in 8th.
Vesti missed out on points in ninth, meaning he now holds just a one point lead over Pourchaire in the championship standings. Ayumu Iwasa remains firmly in contention after his second place, 15 points adrift of Vesti.
