Jehan Daruvala earns first FIA Formula 2 victory in race two at Monza
Red Bull junior Jehan Daruvala has won the second FIA Formula 2 race at Monza ahead of Bent Viscaal and Robert Shwartzman.
Jehan Daruvala wins his first FIA Formula 2 victory at Monza. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
David Beckmann started the reverse-grid race in pole position for the second time this weekend, but Daruvala started strong, launching off the start line and taking the lead into turn one.
Viscaal went past Juri Vips at the start into third, while Christian Lundgaard was spun into turn one, dumping him to the back of the field.
Race one winner Theo Pourchaire was on a charge, passing Guanyu Zhou and pressuring Oscar Piastri for seventh.
Pourchaire was through, but his run was halted as Jake Hughes and Alessio Deledda collided, bringing out a virtual safety car.
Liam Lawson had the fastest reaction at the restart, passing Shwartzman for fifth, but the PREMA driver was quickly able to reclaim the position.
He passed Lawson and Vips in quick succession, dispatching both Red Bull junior drivers for fourth position.
Piastri was able to manage his tyres and had newfound pace against his rivals, taking his PREMA past Pourchaire and making valuable ground against championship rival Guanyu Zhou.
Zhou was keeping a watchful eye on the pair, and his pressure on Pourchaire paid off as the French youngster missed the chicane and had to take the escape road.
Jehan Daruvala, Bent Viscaal, and Robert Shwartzman celebrate on the podium at Monza. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Daruvala took a confident victory, ahead of Viscaal and Shwartzman.
"I think that a win was long overdue this season, so I am very happy," said Daruvala.
"This weekend has been good so far, I’ve been consistently quick."
"I think we deserved the win, hopefully, I can repeat it tomorrow."
Beckmann had been running second, but had also missed turn one, falling down the field to fifth.
Kiwi Liam Lawson finished fourth, with Piastri holding his slim championship lead in seventh place and taking bonus points for the fastest lap.
Marcus Armstrong finished fifteenth after an earlier penalty for forcing another driver off the track.
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