Liam Lawson had no luck at the latest FIA Formula 2 Championship round at Monza in Italy despite having a fast car. Qualifying second fastest for the main Feature Race, Lawson was robbed of a possible victory when the Safety Car was called just as he passed the pit lane entry, taking the lead away from him. He eventually finished down in 13th.
“Qualifying was really good,” explained Lawson. “We had the pace for pole but not the perfect tow. It’s difficult round Monza to be honest so I was really happy to just have a P2 and a front row start.
“The Sprint Race was a really bad start, we had a small clutch issue off the line. It was good in that we were able to fix it for today’s race but I think it cost us a couple of places in the Sprint Race. We managed to get back to finish P6.
“Today, had a good launch, was really happy leading the race at the start. I think we were just about to start building a gap, felt really comfortable, then they called a Safety Car when I was next to the pit lane. But I was the only car that was too far along to be able to get into the pit. So everyone else was able to box.
“It seems a bit ridiculous that races can get decided like this but it is what it is.”
“I had a good restart, was battling with a couple of cars, got spun around in Turn 4, got damage and had to pit. So in the end we didn’t get any points….”
Felipe Drugovich secured the FIA Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship at Monza despite being forced to watch from the sidelines after going out on the opening lap in Saturday’s Sprint Race. Jüri Vips took his first win of the season, proving that overtaking was more than possible around the Temple of Speed, victorious from third on the grid.
Drugovich had to watch Théo Pourchaire’s attempts to deny him the title but, unfortunately for the ART Grand Prix driver, the race did not go his way, allowing the MP Motorsport driver to become 2022 FIA Formula 2 Champion with three races to go. Jehan Daruvala won Sunday’s Feature Race.
Whilst the fight for the 2022 title has already been decided in Drugovich’s favour, the battle for the runner up spot is heating up. Pourchaire and Sargeant’s non-scoring finishes have allowed Iwasa to close the Frenchman’s advantage up to 35 points and leapfrog Doohan for fourth in the process. The Virtuosi driver now sits in fifth, tied with Daruvala on 126 points, but remains ahead on countback.
There are new leaders at the top of the Teams’ Championship. Vesti’s double podium finishes are enough for ART Grand Prix to overtake MP Motorsport for P1 on 281 points, but only by four points. Dropping back slightly, Carlin remain third, 23 points off the lead. PREMA Racing solidify their hold on fourth on 222, as Hitech Grand Prix break into the 200 club this weekend.
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