Robert Shwartzman wins interrupted Formula 2 opener at Silverstone
Robert Shwartzman has won the reverse-grid opening race of the FIA Formula 2 weekend at Silverstone, as Guanyu Zhou's championship lead took a major blow.
Robert Shwartzman celebrates his race one victory at Silverstone. (Formula Motorsport)
Christian Lundgaard started on pole for the reverse-grid outing, falling to third on the opening lap as Shwartzman stormed into the lead from the first corner.
Lundgaard had a brief coming-together with Roy Nissany on the opening lap, but it was a spin from Guanyu Zhou that brought out the Safety Car.
The Championship leader retired from the race, ceding a huge advantage to his opponents and putting him last on the grid for race two.
Australian Oscar Piastri was the star of the first lap, starting in tenth after qualifying in pole position on Friday.
He was up four positions and into seventh before the Safety Car neutralised the field.
Robert Shwartzman leads the field during race one at Silverstone. (Formula Motorsport)
Shwartzman lead away easily from Juri Vips at the restart, as a tight battle developed between Kiwi Liam Lawson and Piastri for sixth.
The pair went wheel-to-wheel for the best part of a lap as Dan Tictum and fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong joined the tussle, but Piastri was able to get past the Red Bull junior driver.
Alessio Deledda spun off - and back on - to the track after a collision, and the Safety Car was called once again while his car was retrieved.
The order at the front was unchanged at the restart and it was Piastri who struck first, stealing sixth from Lawson down the inside.
Guilherme Samaia was spotted facing the wrong direction in the gravel trap after spinning off the track, and the Aston Martin Safety Car emerged for a third time.
Robert Shwartzman, Juri Vips, and Christian Lundgaard on the race on podium at Silverstone. (Formula Motorsport)
Richard Verschoor was the first to pit for fresh tyres, followed by Bent Viscaal, Jack Aitken and Matteo Nannini - but it ended in tears for Aitken, with a bizarre issue for his front-right tyre.
Verschoor had the opposite fortune, carving his way through the field to secure tenth and reverse-grid pole position for race two.
At the front it was Shwartzman who took the chequered flag, ahead of Juri Vips and Christian Lundgaard.
“Last year was a bit of a tough one here, but this year we have finally managed to get the win, so a big thanks to the team," said Shwartzman.
“The start was awesome, I didn’t expect to be P1 at Turn 1, but it was a really, really nice start."
"Jüri was very close, and he was very quick, but I managed to drive cleanly and not make any mistakes."
"We brought the win home, so a big thanks to everyone.”
Aussie Oscar Piastri finished sixth in front of Liam Lawson in seventh, while Marcus Armstrong was ninth.
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