F2 race: Martins 2nd in a truncated race, Hadjar no longer leader
In a reduced race after a major crash at the start, Richard Verschoor took victory in Baku on Sunday ahead of France's Victor Martins. Isack Hadjar, who finished 14th, relinquished his championship lead to Gabriel Bortoleto.
The long race of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix finally only lasted about thirty minutes this Sunday in Formula 2. Qualified 5th, Indian Kush Maini remained stuck on the grid when the lights went out. While the drivers behind him were able to avoid him, Oliver Goethe (MP Motorsport) and then Josep Maria Marti (Campos) came to hit the Invicta number 9. Despite the impressive images of this sequence, the three drivers emerged unharmed, but were forced to retire, as well as Rafael Villagomez (VAN) and Niels Koolen (PHM), being collateral victims.
The incident that triggered a red flag at the start of the F2 Feature Race 🚩
Drivers ok #F2 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/VFjNA8M3SQ
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 15, 2024
With the red flag out, drivers had to wait for the cars and various debris to be removed from the straight before being able to restart the battle, more than half an hour later. The new start was finally given behind the safety car, which pulled away for a 28-minute race.
Martins victim of the stands
Always 3rd at this new start (his initial position on the grid), Victor Martins quickly overtook Andrea Kimi Antonelli before closing in on Richard Verschoor. It was finally 22 minutes before the end when the Alpine Frenchman took control of the race, passing the Trident at the entry to the pit straight.
The shorter format still required drivers to pass through the pit lane at least once. It was at this moment that the race turned and victory slipped away from Martins. Stuck in his pit lane, the Frenchman lost ground by having to let his opponents pass before being able to continue. He eventually managed to overtake the future Mercedes driver but finished behind the Dutchman Verschoor. Still, it was a good weekend for the Frenchman, after his 3rd place in the sprint race on Saturday. The race actually ended under a virtual safety car after Gabriele Mini, who finished 3rd the day before in his first F2 race, hit the wall three minutes before the end.
Bortoleto passes ahead Hadjar in the general classification.
Starting 20th and then 17th after the second start, Isack Hadjar failed to score any points this weekend, as he did at the Monza Grand Prix. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who finished 4th this Sunday, took advantage to become the new championship leader. The Invicta driver also set the fastest lap in the race on Sunday.
The points distribution has been revised taking into account the twists of the race. The first place won 19 points, the second 14, the third 12, and therefore Bortoleto’s fourth place 10 (plus 1 for the fastest lap). The Brazilian now has a 4.5 points lead in the championship ahead of Isack Hadjar.
Only two race weekends left.
Formula 2 drivers will be able to catch their breath after this disjointed race. The next meeting will only take place at the end of November in Qatar before the final showdown in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of December. The French driver from Campos Racing will have to pull himself together if he wants to clinch the championship from Bortoleto.
