Austria: Felipe Drugovich, a rookie takes the lead
The first race weekend delivered its share of surprises in Formula 2. Indeed, the newcomers showed they were eager to compete. While Saturday's feature race was won by the Englishman Callum Ilott, who participated in F2 last year, Sunday's sprint race victory went to Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich, who is making his F2 debut.
A long race full of twists and turns
The action was on point this Saturday for the first race of the season: indeed, the long race was full of surprises and comebacks!
Poleman, Guanyu Zhou (UNI-Virtuosi) could not secure his first F2 victory due to a mechanical issue. He was neck and neck with Mick Schumacher (Prema Racing) and Callum Ilott (UNI-Virtuosi) for a good part of the race. Meanwhile, the young German (20 years old) made a mistake that sent him far into the gravel trap, ruining his hopes for a win at the Red Bull Ring and hindering his ambitions for the sprint race.
LAP 32/40
Schumacher surfs the gravel! His moment off track sends him down to P13 from P2#AustrianGP ???????? #F2 pic.twitter.com/viw6jUVuo3
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) July 4, 2020
The action also came from behind, with impressive comebacks by the Frenchman Giuliano Alesi (BWT HWA Racelab) and the New Zealander Marcus Armstrong (ART Grand Prix). Starting in 18th and 13th positions respectively, the two drivers ultimately secured very commendable 6th and 2nd places.
The victory ultimately goes to Callum Ilott, ahead of two rookies Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzmann (Prema Racing). This podium is indeed made up of two young drivers from F3, but it is also and especially comprised of 3 drivers from the Ferrari Driver Academy!
We find 4 rookies in the top 5 positions of this long race, the Dane Christian Lundgaard (ART Grand Prix) delivered a race full of control, securing a nice 4th place, closely followed by Dan Ticktum, a DAMS driver.
The ranking of the Saturday sprint race:
And breathe ????
Here’s how today shook out…#AustrianGP ???????? #F2 pic.twitter.com/kY0tyUfdOh
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) July 4, 2020
The Safety Car, arbiter of a lively sprint race
Taking advantage of the reverse grid, rookie Felipe Drugovich in his MP Motorsport started from pole position this Sunday morning, with the Charouz Racing System of Louis Deletraz alongside him. Notably, French driver Giuliano Alesi, who achieved a splendid comeback in the long race, started 3rd.
After a rather calm start in the pack, the engine of Giuliano Alesi’s BWT HWA Racelab gave up the ghost as early as the 2nd lap, in a burst of flames, ending the race for Jean’s son. The rest of the race was marked by numerous interventions of the Safety Car on the track, due to many mechanical problems and a collision between rookie Jehan Daruvala (Carlin) and Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix).
Following closely, the leading drivers did not attack each other, with Felipe Drugovich masterfully holding his first place, untroubled by his pursuers, Louis Delétraz and Marcus Armstrong.
Unfortunately, it was once again a mechanical issue that ended Marcus Armstrong’s race! The Safety Car was deployed once more to clear the stranded ART Grand Prix car from the middle of the track, on the climb up to the second corner.
The rest of the race was rather calm, despite a few overtaking attempts in the middle of the pack.
At fault this Saturday, Mick Schumacher was eager to make up for it during this sprint race. At the wheel of his Prema Racing, he made a good start, but he remained stuck in the exhaust of the MP Motorsport driven by the Japanese Nobuharu Matsushita until the finish. The son of Michael thus finished this sprint race in 7th place.
At the end of the 28 laps of this sprint race, Felipe Drugovich, who started in the lead, crossed the finish line first ahead of Louis Delétraz and Dan Ticktum. He is thus the first of the many rookies this season to win in F2.
We must remember from this first Austrian race weekend that the newcomers in F2 are determined to shake up the hierarchy and show that they too are contenders for the championship title, following Nyck de Vries’s victory in 2019!
The ranking of the Sunday sprint race:
It was a dream debut Sprint Race for @FelipeDrugovich
But we’re sure he’s not the only driver happy with the results ????#AustrianGP ???????? #F2 pic.twitter.com/gQjeyW3uJ1
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) July 5, 2020
In the overall standings, it’s the Briton Calum Ilott who takes the lead at the end of this first weekend with 27 points, earned on Saturday after his victory. In second place is rookie Robert Shwartzman with 23 points (third, 15 points on Saturday, and 8 points on Sunday), ahead of another newcomer, Felipe Drugovich, with 21 points and the winner of his first Formula 2 race this Sunday!
