Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips saved his nostril clear in a chaotic Sprint Race 2 in Baku to take his first-ever win, in Formula 2’s one centesimal race, placing on a managed efficiency amongst a number of stoppages and 6 retirements, to end forward of Charouz Racing System’s David Beckmann and Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala. Baku is proving to be considerably of a kick-starter for pre-season title favourites in F2, with Vips becoming a member of Robert Shwartzman in taking a maiden win of the season, the duo each bouncing again after disappointing begins to the 12 months.
It was removed from plain crusing although, because the Estonian had to work exhausting for the win. Starting from third, the Hitech driver survived two Safety Car restarts whereas working his well beyond Bent Viscaal and David Beckmann.
Despite placing up an excellent battle, Charouz rookie Beckmann had to accept second forward of Daruvala, whereas reverse polesitter Viscaal dropped down to fourth.
Shwarztman adopted up his maiden win with fifth forward of Dan Ticktum, who recovered from an opening-lap crash to take sixth. Liam Lawson made up 13 locations to seventh, with Oscar Piasti taking the ultimate factors’ place.
AS IT HAPPENED
After a frantic begin to the primary dash race, nearly all of the sector had been simply hoping to get via the opening two corners unscathed, however that wasn’t the case, with a number of incidents off the road. Guanyu Zhou and Ticktum locked-up and spun at the primary nook, shortly earlier than Ralph Boschung was caught by Théo Pourchaire.
Having saved his nostril clear within the opening two corners, Beckmann threw his Charouz across the outdoors of reverse polesitter Viscaal at Turn 3, going wheel to wheel with the Trident, earlier than braking daringly late at Turn 4 and popping out inches forward of the Dutchman in first.
The Charouz bought his transfer completed simply in time, as a Safety Car was then required to clear up the Turn 1 incidents. Ticktum and Pourchaire had dropped down the sector, however each managed to get going once more. Zhou and Boschung weren’t as fortunate, with each compelled to retire from the race, together with Lirim Zendeli, the MP Motorsport driver having gone vast at Turn 2.
Beckmann aced his restart when the Safety Car returned to the pits, however Viscaal misplaced one other place, falling to third behind Vips. Further again, Pourchaire’s race went from the unhealthy to worse, together with his group recognizing harm to his entrance wing and calling him into the pits for a change.
The Safety Car wasn’t again in the pitlane for lengthy, as Roy Nissany struck the again of Richard Verschoor and dumped the Dutchman’s MP Motorsport into the wall.
After a number of extra laps underneath Safety Car situations, Beckmann nailed one other restart, whereas Viscaal tried to reclaim second from Vips, however the Trident ran vast and dropped down to fifth, behind Daruvala and Marcus Armstrong.
Yet once more, there was drama additional again when racing resumed, as Felipe Drugovich caught Christian Lundgaard and spun the ART Grand Prix into the wall at Turn 1. Armstrong’s DAMS ended up in the wall as effectively, affected by a case of chilly tyres as he tried to cross Viscaal.
Only a Virtual Safety Car was required on this event, however six retirements and three separate stoppages had given the order an almighty shake-up. Ticktum was again up in sixth, regardless of dropping to final after his opening lap crash, whereas Lawson was up to eighth, having began in twentieth.
The newest race restart didn’t go as easily for Beckmann, the German nearly clung on to first however had Vips throughout his rear wing. The Estonian waited patiently for DRS down the principle straight and decisively lunged down the facet of the Charouz for the race lead.
All of that motion got here within a manic 10 laps, however motion cooled from there, with the sector cautious of taking too many dangers, given the incidents they’d already seen. However, having already made up 12 locations from twentieth, Lawson wasn’t opposed to taking just a few extra dangers and dove down the facet of Piastri to snatch seventh.
Almost everybody else appeared to be completely satisfied to stick the place they had been although. On course for his first factors in fourth, Viscaal was conserving third-placed Daruvala in his sights, hoping the Carlin made a mistake.
That mistake by no means got here and Daruvala held on to the ultimate podium spot as they crossed the road. In entrance of them, Vips crossed the chequered flag unopposed as effectively, beating Beckmann by 3.2s.
KEY QUOTE – JÜRI VIPS (HITECH GRAND PRIX)
“An excellent day for us! I don’t assume I had the most effective first race, however we discovered so much from it and in the second race, our tempo was actually good.
“It wasn’t an easy race at all, I had to actually battle for it, however in the tip, I bought into the lead and I by no means regarded again. It is an effective day and I’ve one other likelihood to win from second tomorrow, so I’m wanting ahead to that.”
THE CHAMPIONSHIP VIEW
Finishing outside of the points, Guanyu Zhou retains his place at the top of the Drivers’ Championship on 78 points, but Piastri has moved into second, tied on 55 points with Pourchaire, but ahead of countback. Dan Ticktum is fourth with 54 points, ahead of Shwarztman who is fifth with 51 points.
UNI-Virtuosi remain at the top of the Teams’ Championship with 107 points, ahead of PREMA on 106 and Carlin on 101. Hitech Grand Prix are fourth with 80 points and ART Grand Prix fifth with 71 points.
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