Redemption for Isack Hadjar with F2 feature race victory in Melbourne
Isack Hadjar took a triumphant victory in the Formula 2 feature race at the Australian Grand Prix, a day after he was stripped of his win in the sprint race.
Isack Hadjar on the podium after the Formula 2 feature race in Australia. (Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool/Supplied)
It was redemption for Hadjar, who ducked into pit lane seconds before a virtual safety car for the stricken car of Dennis Hauger, and had the measure of the field to take the chequered flag.
“Finally a race winner of a Formula 2 feature race,” said the French driver.
“It feels great to do it here in Melbourne especially, it’s such an amazing track.”
Hadjar and team Campos Racing have appealed the penalty for the sprint race, with a decision from the stewards still to come on Sunday.
“I’m not too concerned, I’m not putting any focus on that,” he said of the appeal.
“I think my weekend is complete. If they give us the win back, it’s great. If they don’t it’s okay as well, because I felt like I won both races, and that’s the most important thing.”
Hadjar celebrates with his Campos Racing teammates. (Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool/Supplied)
Polesitter Dennis Hauger had a tidy start and maintained the lead ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with the pair battling for the lead in the early stages of the race.
Antonelli was into the lead on lap one but was passed by Hauger on the following lap, falling under pressure from Kush Maini in third.
Zak O’Sullivan came together with Joshua Dürksen to bring out the virtual safety car, with Maini the class of the field when racing resumed on the medium tyre.
He took the lead from Hauger before the supersoft tyre runners dived into pit lane, with Hauger ahead of Antonelli on the supersoft-medium strategy.
The race turned on its head on the following lap, with Hauger heavily into the barriers on his warmup lap.
Hadjar made it into pit lane with seconds to go as the virtual safety car was deployed and the pits were closed.
It progressed to a full safety car, with Hadjar emerging from the pits in the net lead of the race.
Maini and the other five drivers who started on the medium tyre were left in no-man’s land, with Hadjar making his way through the field and into the lead on track when Maini pitted on the final lap.
Paul Aron, Isack Hadjar, and Zane Maloney (right) on the podium after the F2 feature race in Melbourne. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Hadjar took the chequered flag ahead of Paul Aron and Zane Maloney, with the Rodin driver fighting to keep Antonelli off the podium.
The top-three finish keeps Maloney in the lead of the drivers’ standings on 62 points, with Aron in second after a podium in all three rounds so far of the 2024 season.
The FIA Formula 2 field heads to Barcelona for in-season testing from 23-25 April before returning to race at Imola from 17-19 May.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 2 season on Kayo Sports.
