Oscar Piastri awarded half-points as FIA Formula 2 drivers hospitalised
Oscar Piastri has won the FIA Formula 2 feature race in Jeddah marred by an opening lap collision that saw two drivers hospitalised.
Oscar Piastri takes half-points for the FIA Formula 2 feature race in Jeddah. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Théo Pourchaire stalled on the grid and was collected by Enzo Fittipaldi in a massive collision.
The session was immediately red-flagged as marshals attended to both drivers.
A statement from the FIA said both drivers were conscious and taken by ambulance and helicopter to Kind Fahad Armed Forces Hospital.
After a lengthy delay to clear the track, the race resumed for 20 minutes of running, with half-points due to be awarded.
Piastri led away from teammate Robert Shwartzman as teams contemplated when to take the mandatory pit stop in the reduced running.
Piastri came in to make the tyre change on lap four, but the race was suspended once again when Olli Caldwell spun out and came back on track into the path of Guilherme Samaia.
It was declared the race would not resume, with the results counted back to two laps earlier.
Oscar Piastri leads the FIA Formula 2 field in Jeddah. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Piastri was awarded the race victory ahead and fastest lap, ahead of Shwartzman and Ralph Boschung.
"We won the race, if you want to call it a race," said Piastri.
"The points are nice and I am glad that everybody is going to be okay, from the crash."
"That is the most important thing today and we will see you next week for the final round."
With only half-points awarded, Piastri leads the championship on 213.5 points, 51.5 points ahead of teammate Shwartzman, with the championship to be decided in Abu Dhabi.
"It's not done until its mathematically impossible," said the Australian.
"The points gap is big now, and that was exactly the plan going into this weekend, but I still need to make sure its done first, and then I'll hopefully celebrate it."
PREMA Racing celebrate after winning the 2021 FIA Formula 2 teams’ championship. (PREMA Racing/Twitter)
Piastri and Shwartzman's points haul was enough for their team PREMA Racing to take the teams' title for 2021.
"It's 100% what the team deserve," said Piastri.
"They've done an awesome job all season and not just this season, in both seasons I've been with them, so it’s a great achievement for the team."
"It’s not the most exciting way to win the teams championship, nonetheless it’s a massive achievement for the team and I'm really happy for them."
Kiwi Marcus Armstrong was eighth ahead of Liam Lawson in ninth.
Jack Doohan finished his first FIA Formula 2 feature race in thirteenth.
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