Dennis Hauger wins in Baku for first Formula 2 feature race victory
Dennis Hauger claimed his first FIA Formula 2 feature race victory in a dramatic outing in Baku.
Dennis Hauger celebrates his race victory in Baku. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Hauger won the battle with Jüri Vips for the lead when Vips crashed out from the lead in the castle section of the Azerbaijan circuit.
The pair rose to the lead of the pack in the strategy battle in a dramatic race interrupted by multiple crashes, with Hauger taking victory ahead of Logan Sargeant and Felipe Drugovich.
“Really happy with P1 in the feature race," said Hauger.
"It was a messy one."
"I tried to put Jüri under pressure a bit, especially at the end just before the crash."
"He had really good pace so it’s a shame for him but really happy with the win."
"It’s a good step for me this season."
"I think we‘re building up which I’m happy with.”
Dennis Hauger, Logan Sargeant and Felip Drugovich on the Formula 2 podium in Baku. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Vips started on pole and held firm against challenger Liam Lawson on the opening lap, with fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong emerging in third.
Amaury Cordeel and Olli Caldwell came together in turn four, bringing out the first safety car and neutralising the race under the control of the Hitech of Vips.
When racing resumed Vips ran away with the lead at the front, while the pair of Kiwis battled away for the next step on the podium.
Théo Pourchaire struggled for pace and fell quickly down the field, passed by Jake Hughes and Aussie Jack Doohan at the restart.
Jehan Daruvala was the first to pit on lap eight, followed by fellow Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa.
Lawson continued to hold off Armstrong until the leading Kiwi came into the pits on the next lap.
He lost valuable time in the pit lane, having to wait for cars to pass in the fast lane, which allowed Dennis Hauger to leapfrog him in the pits.
Vips was into the pits on the next lap and returned to the track retaining the net lead of the race.
Roy Nissany made a bold, if unwise, move around the outside of Cem Bölükbasi on lap 12, with the pair making contact and both ending their races in the barriers.
The safety car neutralised the field once again, with Aussie Calan Williams leading the field having not yet made his mandatory pit stop.
There was chaos behind Williams at the restart as Armstrong hit the rear of Vips, Pourchaire damaged his front wing, and Ayumu Iwasa and Jake Hughes collided.
Armstrong dropped to ninth after his collision with his teammate, and the bad luck for the New Zealanders continued as Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson collided.
Lawson was left with a puncture, while Doohan received a five-second penalty for his overambitious overtake.
The virtual safety car was called so debris could be cleared, with Williams still in the lead when the green flag returned on lap 17.
The battle was on behind him for the net lead of the race between Vips and Hauger, which became real when Williams locked up and went straight on at turn three.
With just minutes remaining, the pressure was too much for Vips, who clipped the wall in the castle section and retired from the lead.
The race clock elapsed behind the safety car, with Hauger taking the victory ahead of Sargeant and Drugovich.
Drugovich moves ahead slightly in the championship standings, now 49 points ahead of Théo Pourchaire.
Hauger's win moves him from thirteenth in the standings to five, with Kiwi Marcus Armstrong in sixth.
Aussie Jack Doohan leaves Baku ninth in the standings, with Liam Lawson in tenth and Calan Williams in nineteenth.
The 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship returns 2-3 July in Silverstone.
2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship - Baku Feature Race
- Dennis Hauger
- Logan Sargeant
- Felipe Drugovich
- Jehan Daruvala
- Richard Verschoor
- Enzo Fittipaldi
- Frederik Vesti
- Marino Sato
- Ralph Boschung
- Jake Hughes
- Theo Pourchaire
- Marcus Armstrong (NZ)
- Jack Doohan (AUS)
- Ayumu Iwasa
- Liam Lawson (NZ)
- Calan Williams (AUS)
- Juri Vips - DNF
- Roy Nissany - DNF
- Cem Blukbasi - DNF
- Clement Novalak - DNF
- Amaury Cordeel - DNF
- Olli Caldwell - DNF
