Dutch Grand Prix F2 – Sprint Race: No points awarded after the big crash and the rain
The first race of the weekend in Formula 2 in the Netherlands was rendered meaningless. The FIA did not restart the race after a major accident and weather conditions deemed too dangerous.
The Dutch Grand Prix takes place in rainy weather conditions this weekend. The first drivers to suffer from it are the young drivers from Formula 2. At the start of the first race of the weekend, a big crash led to the stoppage of the sprint race.
However, with the rain continuing to pour heavily on the track, the FIA – International Automobile Federation – preferred not to restart the drivers in the race. With too few laps counted to award points, the FIA did not officially count this race and no points were scored.
A stroke of luck for Théo Pourchaire
Théo Pourchaire was starting in pole position for this first race, with the top 10 of the qualifiers being reversed. However, due to a transmission issue, Pourchaire started from the pit lane.
In the fight for the championship, the Frenchman could have lost a lot of points to his competitors. Finally, with no points awarded in this race, the championship remains unchanged and Pourchaire stays as the leader on this Saturday.
An impressive accident
Without Pourchaire, who was starting in pole position, two other French drivers found themselves at the front of the sprint race. Hadjar and Martins indeed took the 2nd and 3rd place on the grid for this sprint race. Upon the restart behind the safety car, the drivers were allowed to race after one lap under the safety car. Without any issues in the first corners, it was at the end of the first lap under green flag that the two Campos cars of Kush Maini and Ralph Boschung ended up on top of each other.
Jack Crawford had to give up as well. Hit by Kush Maini, the Campos then collided with his teammate, and the second Campos literally climbed onto Kush Maini’s car, landing between the halo and the suspended engine cover against the wall.
RED FLAG (LAP 2/28)
The race is red flagged after a huge collision between Crawford, and Campos team mates Boschung and Maini
All three drivers are out of their cars and appear to be okay#DutchGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/ge6JYSFIEQ
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) August 26, 2023
More scared than hurt for the three drivers who escaped unharmed from this first lap accident.
In the constantly wet conditions that followed, the FIA preferred not to take any risks and simply cancelled the F2 race. With only one lap under the safety car and an unfinished lap under the green flag, no points were scored.
First symbolic victory for Hadjar
Although no points are awarded at the end of this race, Hadjar’s victory is still counted in F2. He therefore steps onto the podium alongside another Frenchman, Victor Martins, and a title contender, Bearman.
