Frederik Vesti wins Formula 2 feature in Jeddah, Jack Doohan second
Frederik Vesti remained focused in a difficult FIA Formula 2 feature race in Jeddah to take victory ahead of Jack Doohan and Jehan Daruvala.
Frederik Vesti celebrates on the podium in Jeddah. (XPB Images)
Vesti was more confident in the warmer conditions as his rivals span out in seemingly minor incidents.
With the field split on strategy, it was Briton Oliver Bearman and French Alpine junior Victor Martins who squabbled for the net race lead after the first round of pit stops.
Close encounters between the pair on two consecutive laps into turn one allowed Bearman’s Prema Racing teammate Vesti to close the gap and pass him in the chicane.
Bearman then spun out, struggling with tyre wear in the hot conditions.
Martins was to do the same on the following lap, spinning out and retiring from the race, which promoted Vesti to the net lead from sixth on the grid.
Alternate strategy front-runners Richard Verschoor and Arthur Leclerc returned at the rear of the top ten when they finally made their stops, with Verschoor making his way up to sixth after starting twentieth.
Arthur Leclerc could only manage eighth as he lost time in pit lane and ran out of laps to attack the drivers ahead.
With an unsuccessful challenge from the alternate runners, Vesti sped away to the chequered flag ahead of Doohan and Daruvala.
Doohan earned his first podium of the season so far, while Daruvala claimed the final podium position for each race in Saudi Arabia.
Ralph Boschung maintains his lead of the standings on 33 points, ahead of Theo Pourchaire on 32 points and Ayumu Iwasa on 31 points.
The win promotes Vesti to fourth on 28 points, while Daruvala’s consistency has him fifth in the standings ahead of Jack Doohan.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship returns 31 March - 2 April at Albert Park for the category’s debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
More to come….
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