Oliver Bearman has won the Formula 2 Sprint Race in Azerbaijan following a spectacular late safety car restart that resulted in a multi-car pileup.
There was drama at the race start as Victor Martins collided with Zane Maloney just metres into the race. This incident was noted by the stewards but no further investigation was deemed necessary.
Fellow front-row sitter Richard Verschoor went deep into Turn 1, slides on the dirty track and tags the rear of Maloney’s car. Both drivers plummeted down the field. Verschoor retired, Maloney would circulate laps down before also retiring on Lap 18.
Dennis Hauger escaped the incidents around him, charging from sixth to first by the end of the first sector.
Ralph Boschung clipped the inside wall in the castle section and promptly brought his Campos to a stop after running in P6. The safety car was deployed on Lap 3 to clear the car.
The safety car period ended and racing resumed on Lap 6. Hauger launched late, knowing the dangers of accelerating too soon and becoming vulnerable to attack in Turn 1. instead, it was Martins who came under threat by Jehan Daruvala, but the field maintained position for the timebeing.
With DRS activated, the battles intensified. The Prema of Oliver Bearman was the first to make the most of DRS assistance, taking 7th place from Theo Pourchaire under breaking at Turn 1.
Bearman, the polesitter for tomorrow’s Feature Race, was clearly full of confidence around the Baku street circuit. He swiftly got past Crawford for fifth and was the fastest driver on track as he began to close in on teammate Frederik Vesti.
A three-way scrap for third place began with Daruvala dropping off from the leading pair of Hauger and Martins. Vesti got by, but Bearman would have to wait another half a lap before his chance would come.
Championship leader Ayumu Iwasa pulled into the pits and retired on Lap 11 after suffering what seemed to be a hydraulics issue that left his DRS stuck open.
Roy Nissany clattered into the outside wall at Turn 15 on Lap 15, bringing out another safety car.
The race resumed on Lap 19, allowing for a three-lap sprint to the end. Rule changes to the use of DRS mean that only one lap has to be completed before DRS becomes activated which would place more pressure on Hauger.
The restart this time wasn’t as successful for Hauger. Both Hauger and Martins had no braking performance into Turn 1, ending up in the outside wall. Daruvala, looking to go around the outside at Turn 1, collided with Martins’ stricken car, launching the Frenchman into the air before resting on top of Daruvala.
The scene at Turn 1 after the lap 19 restart. Victor Martins and Jehan Daruvala both escaped unhurt.
Arthur Leclerc and Theo Pourchaire also found themselves in the outside wall at Turn 1 after not receiving the braking performance they had expected. Jack Doohan also retired after spinning under braking amidst the chaos.
But it was the Premas that emerged through the chaos, with Bearman getting the best of Vesti before the safety car was deployed again.
The race would not get back underway, with Bearman emerging victorious amidst the late drama and winning under the safety car. He also took the bonus point for fastest lap.
It was the Ferrari academy driver’s first victory in Formula 2 in what has already been an impressive weekend for the Brit. He starts tomorrow’s feature race on pole.
Vesti took second-place ahead of Crawford who completed the podium.
