Isack Hadjar rewarded with maiden F2 victory after start-line crash
Isack Hadjar took his first Formula 2 victory in the sprint race at the Australian Grand Prix after a difficult start to the season and a start-line crash in Melbourne.
Isack Hadjar on track to his maiden FIA Formula 2 victory in Melbourne. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Hadjar started on the second row and rocketed past the front row with teammate Josep Maria “Pepe” Martí in a similar situation behind him and the two made contact, with Martí bounced off into the path of Gabriel Bortoleto and into the wall.
The Red Bull junior led away from the safety car restart to a massive lead before another intervention for more car stranded in the gravel at turn 12.
With eight laps of green-flag racing remaining, Hadjar romped away once again to take his maiden victory by more than six seconds.
“Super happy with the sprint race win,” said the Frenchman.
“It was really, really fun leading all the laps, it was great. We will hope for the same tomorrow.”
“Since yesterday, already the car felt really good, we were really competitive already, and from there I could manage the pace.”
“I just felt really comfortable, lap-after-lap the balance was very similar, so I built the confidence a lot.”
Isack Hadjar celebrates with Campos Racing team boss Adrian Campos Jr. in the pit lane in Melbourne. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Roman Stanek was second after a difficult race, having to hold off a chasing pack of much faster drivers.
It was a pack of five, at times six cars, with a number of them too eager and tripping over each over on lap 10.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli attempted a move on the outside of Richard Verschoor but was too eager, spinning out into the gravel.
Verschoor braked to avoid the Mercedes junior driver and spun in sympathy, with Paul Aron collecting his stricken Trident and suffering front wing damage.
Second was the best finish for Stanek in his Formula 2 career, with feature race polesitter Dennis Hauger up from tenth on the grid to the final podium position.
Alpine F1 junior Victor Martins was one of the stars of the race, up to seventh and earning two championship points after starting last on the grid.
Zane Maloney remains at the top of the drivers’ standings on 47 points after his historic sweep of the opening round in Bahrain, despite finishing out of the points in the Melbourne sprint race.
Dennis Hauger is up to second in the championship hunt after his third podium in a row, and due to start to the feature race after an impressive pole effort on Friday.
The FIA Formula 2 field returns for the feature race at 11.35am (AEDT) on Sunday.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 2 season on Kayo Sports.
