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Formula 2 return for its seventh round of the 2024 season, this time taking to the Red Bull Ring.
How we'll grid up for the Feature ?
Who's going to be standing on the podium? ?#F2 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/6H6uQm2QlR
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 30, 2024
Friday’s Qualifying session saw a close battle for pole, however, it was Dennis Hauger who was victorious and claimed his second pole position of the season. Durksen and Bortoleto rounded out the Feature Race’s starting front three.
Saturday’s Sprint race saw Kush Maini begin on pole, but, Oliver Bearman snatched the lead on the first turn and lead the remainder of the race, securing his first win of the season after a difficult start for Prema. With 40 exciting laps ahead, what happened in the Feature Race?
? FORMATION LAP ?
DRAMA before the race even gets underway as three cars stall on the grid, including the pole sitter Dennis Hauger! ?#F2 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/7DAMFSEpDB
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 30, 2024
Hauger stalled on the formation lap, the engine wasn’t working for the Norwegian meaning he had to head to the pit lane for the start, a heartbreaking beginning to the race. He wasn’t the only one, Jak Crawford and Kush Maini also both stalled and had to retreat to the pit lane for the start.
Lights out
LIGHTS OUT! ?
Joshua Dürksen leads us away from Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto!#F2 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/00WI5NiQrw
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 30, 2024
Durksen had an excellent start to the race, leading the pack into Turn 1. Kimi Antonelli had a stellar start, after starting 16th, the Italian jumped up six positions and was running in the top 10. Bortoleto was running alongside Durksen, however, the AIX Racing driver won the battle this time around. The pair scraped for the lead, this time with Bortoleto grabbing first position.
The Virtual Safety Car was deployed after Maloney stopped on the track, the Barbadian’s race was over. Once the VSC returned tot he pits, drivers headed into the pits to begin the pit stops. Durksen was one of those drivers, with Bortoleto heading in the next time round.
Disaster struck for Antonelli who was struggling to get his car going again after heading in for new tyres. The Italian who had a brilliant start dropped down to the back of the grid, 25 seconds behind Correa in 20th.
Colapinto out up front was leading by six seconds, gaining some crucial track time position. Crawford who stalled on the formation lap was making an incredible recovery drive, already running in the top 10. Paul Aron was issued with a five second penalty after an investigation found he changed directions too many times when Hadjar tried to make a pass on him.
Chaos continues
Ritomo Miyata was beginning to slow on track, however, he got his car back up and running again, meaning no huge loss for the Rodin racer. Bortoleto was running in eighth, putting in the fastest laps of the season, hungry for victory in Austria.
Bearman was the next to run slowly, the engine was failing for the Briton who began limping back to the pits, his race was over a disappointing end to the weekend after securing a victory in the Sprint Race.
A disastrous race for Prema with both drivers struggling.
LAP 26 / 40
"He didn't defend like this against Bortoleto! Come on guys, please!" ?
Hadjar is right on the back of his teammate Martí and desperately wants to get past#F2 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/cbd6ZYXyCd
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 30, 2024
Bortoleto moves into the net race lead after overtaking Marti. The Brazilian was flying around the circuit, setting the fastest lap of the race. Hadjar made a move on his teammate, overtaking Marti and grabbing sixth position. The next in sight was Bortoleto.
The final stint
With 9 laps remaining, Hadjar was reporting he was struggling with tyres, after fighting with his teammate for a couple of laps. His championship rival, Aron was running down in eighth, just behind his teammate. The fight between the two teammates wasn’t over just yet, with the pair split up by just three tenths, running closely to each other again.
Colapinto heads into the pits after pushing his tyres until lap 33, the Argentinian came out in eighth. Bortoleto took the lead of the race once again, with Crawford and Hadjar just behind.
The on going battle with the Campos drivers headed into the final laps of the race, with Hadjar given the order to gain track position or to let Marti past. Colapinto was fighting for a podium position, the Argentinian was setting the fastest lap around the circuit and worked his way up from eighth to fifth.
The MP Motorsport driver had excellent grip around the track, and made the pass on Aron and worked his way to fourth. With only 3 laps remaining, the fight was on. Colapinto passes Marti and grabs the final podium position, an incredible showing from Colapinto.
However, the driver was hungry for another position, snatching second place just a couple of corners after grabbing a podium position. Bortoleto crosses the line in first with Colapinto and Hadjar rounding out the top three.
The top 10
1 – Bortoleto
2 – Colapinto
3 – Hadjar
4 – Marti
5 – Fittipaldi
6 – Aron
7 – Durksen
8 – Cordeel
9 – Barnard
10 – O’Sullivan