India’s Jehan Daruvala raced to his sixteenth Formula 2 podium with a tough-fought third-place end in Sprint race of the championship’s Saudi Arabian spherical. The 24-12 months-outdated MP Motorsport driver began fifth and was hustling eventual winner Ayumu Iwasa for the win however dropped to 3rd simply three laps from the tip after making a daring bid for the lead that very practically earned him his first win of the season. Still, he crossed the road simply over a second behind Iwasa and fewer than half a second behind runner-up Victor Martins to attain his second successive podium across the barrier-lined, excessive-velocity sweeps of the Red Sea monitor.
“To be honest, there are a bunch of mixed emotions,” mentioned Jehan after the race on Saturday. “I’d positively say I used to be disillusioned I did not win as a result of the automobile was excellent and I had numerous tempo in the present day?but in addition not disillusioned as a result of I took numerous dangers.
“I have no regrets. I tried to win the race and, in the end, it didn’t pay off.” Jehan made a lightning begin off the road however was boxed in by the Campos automobiles of Ralph Boschung and compatriot Kush Maini.
Daruvala _ Boschung
A battle which raged on for over a lap!#SaudiArabianGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/Oufh5udLG4— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 18, 2023
A second-lap security automobile that bunched the sector up gave him a shot at passing Maini and Jehan duly seized the chance to muscle his well past his fellow Indian and set off in pursuit of Red Bull-backed racer Jak Crawford. Jehan despatched Crawford on Lap 7 simply seconds earlier than a collision between Theo Pourchaire and Oliver Bearman triggered a second security automobile interval.
Jehan was scorching on second-positioned Boschung’s heels because the race bought underway. The Swiss racer was powerless to withstand the MP Motorsport racer’s cost as he swept across the outdoors of Turn 1 to take second.
He then battled Iwasa, whereas additionally holding the fast Martins at bay, earlier than finally having to concede after his flip 1 gamble for a fifth F2 win did not repay. The podium was Jehan’s first of the season. Set to maneuver up one spot on the grid to fourth after a penalty for Theo Pourchaire, he has a very good likelihood of finishing a podium sweep. Jehan, nevertheless, is eyeing victory.
“All in all, I’m happy,” he mentioned. “I think I can even fight for the win tomorrow in the Feature Race.”
