Nobuharu Matsushita wins frantic FIA F2 feature race in Barcelona
Nobuharu Matsushita has taken his first race victory of the 2020 FIA Formula 2 season in Barcelona, ahead of Robert Shwartzman and Guanyu Zhou.
Nobuharu Matsushita wins the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race in Barcelona. (Image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
Callum Ilott started the race on pole, but it was Shwartzman who lead from the front row, driving off into the distance from Turn 1 as Ilott busied himself defending from Mick Schumacher behind.
Schumacher, on the alternate strategy with the Hard tyre, was up from fifth place and challenging for second by the first corner, but Ilott ultimately held on to the position.
Kiwi Marcus Armstrong spun off into the gravel trap, bringing out the Safety Car and temporarily halting the race.
Ilott was able to break away from Schumacher after the restart, catching up with Shwartzman and ultimately passing his title rival into Turn 1.
Jack Aitken was the first runner into the pits to change his Soft tyres on Lap 7, with Shwartzman into the pits a lap late.
Ilott, in control at the lead of the race, was able to manage his Soft tyres until Lap 9, gaining the considerable on-track advantage.
Callum Ilott versus Robert Swartzman for the lead of the FIA Formula 2 pack in Barcelona. (Image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
Schumacher, in the lead with the alternate strategy, struggled late in his opening stint on the Hard tyres, with Ilott only 4 seconds behind on Lap 23 when he finally pitted—and the German returned to the running order down in P13.
Sean Gelael and Giuliano Alesi touched tyres, sending Alesi into a spin and bringing out another Safety Car.
Ilott dived into the pits for a second time to grab a fresh set of Soft tyres, followed by Felipe Drugovich, Shwartzman, and Guanyu Zhou.
Ilott returned to the race in second place, with Yuki Tsunoda holding the lead behind the Safety Car.
Tsunoda held onto the lead of the race, but Ilott was picked off by Nobuharu Matsushita, who had started down in P18.
Matsushita had pitted just before the Safety Car period, and was promoted to third place as the leaders rolled the dice and pitted again for fresh tyres.
Shwartzman was quickly past Ilott as well, and the pair set off after Tsunoda for the race lead. Both drivers forced their way through, before Roy Nissany lost control of his car, ending his race in the wall at Turn 3.
Robert Shwartzman, Yuki Tsunoda, and Guanyu Zhou on the FIA Formula 2 podium in Barcelona. (image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
With one lap left at the final restart, Matsushita held on to the lead for his first victory of the year, ahead of Shwartzman and Zhou.
“I am really happy,” he said.
“I have been struggling for pace this season at times, but we had mega pace today. The Safety Car was perfect timing, but I will get confidence from this race. Starting from P8 tomorrow, I think I can have another good race and will keep pushing.”
Indonesian driver Sean Gelael suffered an unseen incident with a curb on the final lap, and retired on the track. After being transported to a local medical centre, he revealed on Instagram that he had suffered a D4 mid spine fracture.
