A disciplined drive from Kiwi Liam Lawson has netted him third place in the FIA Formula 2 Championship Sprint Race in Sakhir, Bahrain. Richard Verschoor claimed Trident’s first Formula 2 win launching into the lead at lights out and cruising to victory ahead of pre-season title favourites Jehan Daruvala and Lawson. Fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong retired earlier having been hit from behind by another competitor.
“The first part of the race wasn’t easy,” commented Lawson. “I locked up early in the races and had to contend with a vibration and couldn’t brake properly. I thought that we were really slow until the end when the car was actually quite fast.
“Lots of positives for tomorrow to move forward. a podium would be nice but going for points.”
Verschoor was the last driver to be announced ahead of the new season but has become the first victor, with the Dutchman clinching a second win at this level. Overtaking the slow-starting Felipe Drugovich off-the-line, the Trident driver’s win rarely looked in doubt.
Jehan Daruvala came the closest to challenging Verschoor, but the PREMA Racing driver lost time while battling with Ralph Boschung for third, with the Campos Racing driver putting up a valiant defence, before dropping off the podium in the final laps.
Carlin’s Lawson was the one to nick the final place on the podium from Boschung, leaving the Swiss racer to settle for fourth ahead of reverse polesitter Drugovich.
Carling’s Logan Sargeant and Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips finished sixth and seventh after an enthralling battle, with Ayumu Iwasa clinching the final points’ position after a phenomenal debut drive from last to eighth.
Sprint Race Results
1/ Richard Verschoor Trident
2/ Jehan Daruvala Prema Powerteam
3/ Liam Lawson Carlin
4/ Ralph Boschung Campos Racing
5/ Felipe Drugovich MP Motorsport
6/ Logan Sargeant Carlin
7/ Jüri Vips HitechGP
8/ Ayumu Iwasa Nissan e.dams
9/ Dennis Hauger Prema Powerteam
10/ Jack Doohan Virtuosi Racing
11/ Enzo Fittipaldi Charouz Racing System
12/ Roy Nissany Nissan e.dams
13/ Frederik Vesti ART Grand Prix
14/ Cem Bolukbasi Charouz Racing System
15/ Calan Williams Trident
16/ Marino Sato Virtuosi Racing
17/ Amaury Cordeel Van Amersfoort Racing
18/ Clement Novalak MP Motorsport
DNF Olli Caldwell Campos Racing
DNF Jake Hughes Van Amersfoort Racing
DNF Theo Pourchaire ART Grand Prix
DNF Marcus Armstrong HitechGP
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