Ralph Boschung claims long-awaited victory in Formula 2 season opener

Ralph Boschung was without peer as he won the FIA Formula 2 season opener in Bahrain.

Ralph Boschung took a long-awaited FIA Formula 2 victory in the 2023 season opener in Sakhir. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

The Campos Racing driver started confidently from the reverse grid pole position and sped away from the field to win the first race of his 2023 campaign.

“My first victory after 96 starts, and as I said, better late than never!” said Boschung.

“I’m super happy, the car was on rails.”

“Thanks to the team, they deserve this so much.”

“Super happy with today.”

Ralph Boschung (third from left), Dennis Hauger and Victor Martins on the podium. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

Behind him, Roman Stanek struggled off the line from second on the grid and was passed by the DAMS pairing of Arthur Leclerc and Ayumu Iwasa, who continued their battle for the position throughout the opening lap.

Iwasa took the top spot by the end of the lap, but a charging Victor Martins was up to third by lap seven and applying pressure to the Japanese DAMS driver.

The pair duelled for position for lap-after-lap with Theo Pourchaire and Dennis Hauger joining the battle, making it a four-way fight for the final two podium positions.

The ART pairing of Martins and Pourchaire began to struggle with tyre degradation as the race went on, with Dennis Hauger going wheel-to-wheel with Martins until he claimed second place on the penultimate tour.

Boschung took victory with a lead of almost eleven seconds ahead of Hauger and Martins.

Australian Jack Doohan finished one spot out of the points in eleventh.

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