F2 sprint race – Belgium: O’Sullivan wins 4-lap race
First postponed due to rain, the Formula 2 sprint race ended up lasting just 4 laps. Nevertheless, O'Sullivan won the race, took the podium and scored 5 points - half the usual number of points for a sprint race. Denis Hauger and Richard Verschoor completed the podium.
The rain had postponed the sprint race, originally scheduled before the F1 qualifying. Finally, the sprint race did take place, but at the end of the day and under very wet conditions. The F2 drivers only completed 4 laps before the race was stopped by the FIA. Only half points were awarded.
Starting from pole position due to the reversed grid in Formula 2, the British driver Zak O’Sullivan maintained his position and led the race before the red flag. The top three finished in the order of the grid.
Despite the challenging conditions, the race start was given from a standstill, and the drivers, although young and with less experience than F1 drivers, provided a great show until the 4th lap when the safety car was deployed due to Marti’s car stopping on the track. The FIA deemed the conditions too difficult to continue and stopped the race after only 4 laps. As a result, only half points were awarded, the original distance being 18 laps.
Results of the F2 sprint race in Belgium
| Driver | Team | Times | Gap | Laps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Z. O’sullivan #2 | ART Grand Prix | 14:15.548 | 5 | |
| 2 | D. Hauger #11 | MP Motorsport | 14:16.397 | +0.849 | 5 |
| 3 | R. Verschoor #22 | Trident | 14:16.670 | +1.122 | 5 |
| 4 | Z. Maloney #5 | Rodin Motorsport | 14:18.579 | +3.031 | 5 |
| 5 | J. Crawford #7 | DAMS Lucas Oil | 14:19.599 | +4.051 | 5 |
| 6 | A. Antonelli #4 | PREMA Racing | 14:20.758 | +5.210 | 5 |
| 7 | O. Bearman #3 | PREMA Racing | 14:21.570 | +6.022 | 5 |
| 8 | F. Colapinto #12 | MP Motorsport | 14:23.213 | +7.665 | 5 |
| 9 | I. Hadjar #20 | Campos Racing | 14:24.455 | +8.907 | 5 |
| 10 | G. Bortoleto #10 | Invicta Racing | 14:25.455 | +9.907 | 5 |
| 11 | A. Cordeel #16 | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 14:26.735 | +11.187 | 5 |
| 12 | V. Martins #1 | ART Grand Prix | 14:28.190 | +12.642 | 5 |
| 13 | K. Maini #9 | Invicta Racing | 14:29.647 | +14.099 | 5 |
| 14 | E. Fittipaldi #14 | Van Amersfoort Racing | 14:31.247 | +15.699 | 5 |
| 15 | R. Miyata #6 | Rodin Motorsport | 14:32.245 | +16.697 | 5 |
| 16 | T. Barnard #25 | AIX Racing | 14:32.633 | +17.085 | 5 |
| 17 | J. Correa #8 | DAMS Lucas Oil | 14:33.399 | +17.851 | 5 |
| 18 | P. Aron #17 | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 14:34.250 | +18.702 | 5 |
| 19 | J. Durksen #24 | AIX Racing | 14:34.802 | +19.254 | 5 |
| 20 | R. Stanek #23 | Trident | 14:35.734 | +20.186 | 5 |
| 21 | R. Villagomez #15 | Van Amersfoort Racing | 14:36.748 | +21.200 | 5 |
| 22 | J. Marti #21 | Campos Racing | 3:28.816 | DNF | 1 |
