Ferrari Academy driver Robert Shwartzman dominated to win the first Sprint Race of the FIA Formula 2 weekend in Baku.
The Prema driver led from reverse-grid pole and was never headed through the course of the 21-lap race as he finally picked up his first victory of the 2021 campaign.
Williams junior Dan Ticktum was one of the biggest movers through the race as he carved his way from sixth to finish runner-up, albeit distant, to Shwartzman.
Championship leader Guanyu Zhou claimed the last spot on the podium in third, ahead of Jehan Daruvala.
Theo Pourchaire was fifth and got the extra points for the fastest lap in front of Ralph Boschung, Marcus Armstrong and Juri Vips, who picked up the last point in eighth.
Bent Viscaal will start Sprint Race 2 from pole position, after classifying 10th, with David Beckmann set to join him on the front row of the grid.
Zhou extended his points lead to 23 after erstwhile nearest challenger Oscar Piastri retired on the opening lap.
Piastri was rear-ended by Felipe Drugovich, who was penalised for the contact, with the momentum carrying Piastri into the path of Liam Lawson, who was also forced into retirement.
Sprint Race 2 for FIA Formula 2, which marks the series’ 100th race under its current moniker, begins at 17:40 track time following Formula 1 qualifying.
