2023-07-01 12:34:09
In an event disrupted by rain, Jak Crawford won his first race in FIA F2. The Hitech driver was ahead of Victor Martins and Clément Novalak, yet 20th on the starting grid.
In a heavy atmosphere, Formula 2 made its return for the seventh meeting of its season, on the Red Bull Ring. The world of motorsport was indeed in mourning following the announcement of the death of young driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff, aged just 18, during FRECA Race 2 at Spa-Francorchamps. Before the start of the F2 sprint race, team members MP Motorsportin which Van ‘t Hoff was racing, observed a minute of silence on the grid.
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Several formation laps were completed behind the Safety Car due to the unexpected return of the rain. Some bet on an improvement in conditions and stayed on slicks, others opted for rain tyres. This was particularly the case ofArthur Leclercthird.
The race was finally launched with a standing start. Leclerc took advantage of the reduced grip to emerge from his position and take command, ahead Theo Pourchaire et Frederik Vesti, also in rain tyres. In slicks, the poleman Like Crawford dropped to sixth place during the first lap while Jehan Daruvalasecond, lost everything when he made a mistake in the second sector and caused the Safety Car to exit.
During this neutralization, most of the men on rain tyres, with the exception of the leading duo Leclerc-Verschoor, went through the pits to put on slicks despite the precarious conditions. A bad decision, since the same Verschoor lost control of his car at the exit of the first corner to restart the race and invited the SC to return to the track.
This time, Leclerc and his teammate Ayumu Iwasa took the opportunity to change their rubbers. Crawford was able to regain command, ahead Juan Manuel Correa et Zane Maloney (still on rain tyres). The evolution of the weather was then unreadable.
On relaunch, Victor Martins pulled out of the game going from sixth to third place. Followed his compatriots Isack Hadjar et Clement Novalak, respectively 21st and 20th on the starting grid! The French riders benefited from big fights in the peloton to build up a small lead over faster riders, such as Pourchaire, Bearman, Vesti or even Fittipaldi.
At the halfway point, Crawford was 1.6″ ahead of Correa and 2″ ahead of Martins. Novalak, who got rid of Hadjar, was the new fourth man in the standings. Martins then attacked Correa at the top of the hill to take second place. Lacking rhythm, the VAR driver was attacked a few loops later by Novalak and Hadjar, who were able to pass.
At the same time, Enzo Fittipaldi was spun at high speed by Who Maini, who packed him in wet grass. Only the Virtual Safety Car has been deployed.
Once the green flag was waved, Crawford was able to manage his lead over his pursuers and win his first F2 race. Martins climbed on the second step of the podium and Novalak on the third, making his return to the top three since the sprint in Zandvoort last year. Fourth, Hadjar signed his best performance in the antechamber of F1. Correa, Stanek, Hauger and Doohan scored the last points in play.
Red Bull Ring – Course Sprint
Ranking to come.
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