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Formula 2 heads to Spain for the sixth round of its 2024 season with a tenth different victor being crowned.
The 22 drivers head to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. Photo credits: Formula 2 via XLast time out in Monaco, Paul Aron took the lead of the championship after finishing third, Isack Hadjar slotted in just behind him, just five points separating the pair. The previous leader, Zane Maloney, had a difficult weekend, only able to muster up one point, which dropped him down to third.
The weekend so far has seen a ninth victor secure a win with Victor Martins claiming the Sprint race crown. Qualifying saw championship leader, Paul Aron claim his maiden pole, an excellent start to the weekend for the Estonian, earning a crucial point in his quest for the championship. Jak Crawford and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top three, just 0.008s separating the three drivers.
How we start today's Feature ?
Who are you backing for the win? ?#F2 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/JAexGwppOf
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 23, 2024
How did the race unfold?
As it happened
Kimi Antonelli stalled on the formation lap, a difficult beginning for the Italian who was starting in fifth, having to retreat to the pits for a pit lane start. Another wound added for the PREMA team. Roman Stanek joined the Italian driver, heading to the pit lane for the start of the race.
LIGHTS OUT! ?
DRAMA AT THE START! ?
Dennis Hauger spins at turn 2, colliding with Victor Martins with both cars ending up in the gravel and out of the race #F2 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/tAeQXjucI4
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 23, 2024
When the five lights went out, Aron shot ahead and led the pack into Turn 1. Unlike yesterday’s Sprint, the start wasn’t clean with a safety car being brought out after Victor Martins and Dennis Hauger collided into one another, ending both their races quickly.
After three laps behind the safety car, the drivers were once again under green flag conditions.
Aron once again shot away, building up a 1.274s gap to Crawford. The hard tyres were proving to be the better tyres, with the eight drivers on the tyre flying around the circuit. Durksen on the hard tyre, snatched fifth position out from Hadjar who was running on the soft tyre.
Fittipaldi and Maloney head to the pits with Aron opting to stay out.
The next batch of drivers heading into the pits on Lap 11, this time with the Estonian working his way into the pits. However, his stop was slow, hindering the Hitech driver, leaving him vulnerable to Crawford, who overtakes the driver and takes the net race lead.
VSC comes out
The race was neutralised after a virtual safety car was brought out after Taylor Barnard stopped on the inside of the final corner, a disappointing weekend for the Monaco Sprint race winner. The car was quickly recovered, with the VSC playing into Aron’s favour.
LAP 16 / 37
ARON'S OFF! ?
A snap of oversteer in the final corner sends Aron through the gravel and drops him to 12th ⬇️#F2 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/pHfr4N5IKu
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 23, 2024
Aron slides onto the gravel after losing the rear, another punch to the Hitech driver, dropping down the pecking order to 12th. The Estonian was noted for rejoining the track unsafely, however, it was deemed no further investigation.
Durksen who was leading the race was running slowly and drastically falling down the standings, he becomes the fourth retirement of the race, a difficult weekend for AIX driver’s.
The green flag is shown with Juan Manuel Correa leading the pack with 17 laps to go, Maini was running just behind the American. Just like yesterday, track limits were becoming a problem for the drivers with Zak O’Sullivan getting handed the black and white flag.
Aron made an incredible recovery, overtaking Bortoleto and running in fifth. Correa, Maini and Cordeel headed to the pits, Crawford took the lead with Colapinto running closely behind.
Correa was flying around the circuit overtaking both Hadjar and Bortoleto, after being denied a podium in the Sprint race due to track limits, the DAMs racing driver was hungry for redemption.
Correa made the pass on Aron on Lap 33, despite Aron’s efforts to salvage his race, the Estonian couldn’t compete against the DAMs fresh soft tyres.
On the final lap the two Invicta Racing cars collide with Bortoleto suffering from damage with Maini crossing the line in sixth.
Crawford crossed the line, securing his first win of the season, being crowned the tenth different victor of the season. Colapinto and Correa rounded out the top three.
The top 10
1 – Crawford
2 – Colapinto
3 – Correa
4 – Aron
5 – Hadjar
6 – Maini
7 – Bortoleto
8 – Maloney
9 – Cordeel
10 – Marti
Featured image credits: Formula 2 on X