Alex Dunne takes maiden FIA Formula 2 victory in Bahrain feature race

SAKHIR–Alex Dunne became the first Irishman to take victory in the FIA Formula 2 championship after a tight strategy battle in the feature race at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Leonardo Fornaroli began on pole position, but Dunne was up from fourth to second after the first corner and chasing down the leader.

The Rodin Motorsport driver took the lead of the race on lap seven before the first drivers dived into pit lane, with a handful of drivers including Dunne holding on to their soft compounds and waiting until the end of lap 16.

Luke Browning was the lead driver on the alternate strategy and moved his way through the field in the meantime, but it was Dunne who rejoined in the lead and maintained a gap over the Williams development driver to the chequered flag.

Browning was second after an impressive race and polesitter Leonardo Fornaroli completed the podium.

"Yeah, it's got a nice ring to it, for sure," said Dunne.

"We're really happy. I think the team have done a mega job. I think I knew the pace was there to have a good result, but naturally, even if you know the pace is there, you probably would never expect a result like this.

"The thing that makes it even sweeter is, after the race we had yesterday, you know, I think I was bit disappointed with myself towards the end of the sprint race... I definitely didn't do the job that I hold myself to, to a certain level.

"So, I think to bounce back like that in a dominant fashion is kind of a nice way to redeem myself and pay back the team."

It was certainly a redemption drive for the Irishman, after being handed two five-second penalties and being found responsible for a collision with Ritomo Miyata in Saturday's sprint race.

Dunne had been a man on a mission, admitting he had let his frustrations get the better of him and had attacked too aggressively on the track.

Sprint race winner Pepe Martí had an impressive race to cut through the field to fourth, while fellow Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad was also a standout after making his way from 16th on the grid to 8th at the chequered flag.

After a cancelled feature race at the Australian Grand Prix, things are tight in the FIA Formula 2 standings, with just five points separating the top five drivers.

Fornaroli leads on 26 points, just one point ahead of Dunne and Browning, with sprint-race winner Martí in fourth on 23 points and Richard Verschoor in fifth.

The FIA Formula 2 championship returns next week for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.

Watch every race of the FIA Formula 2 Championship on Kayo Sports. Join now to get a 7-day free trial.