A commanding F2 Feature Race victory for Piastri at the Sochi Autodrom as he extends his championship lead with two rounds to go

Oscar Piastri drove a stellar race to claim yet another victory in Formula 2 as the Aussie moves one step closer to the 2021 F2 title.

The championship leader pitted a lap earlier than his closest rival, Theo Pourchaire, as he went on to score his third win of the season.

Pourchaire wasn’t too far behind in second but the crucial tyre warm-up faze cost him the race victory with Jehan Daruvala rounding out the rostrum.

Starting Grid

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Oscar Piastri made it three pole positions in a row as the Aussie lined up on the front row alongside Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala in second.

Theo Pourchaire started third, Guanyu Zhou in fourth, Ralph Boschung in fifth, Jake Hughes in sixth, Robert Shwartzman in seventh, Liam Lawson in eighth, Juri Vips in ninth and race one winner Dan Ticktum in 10th.

Just outside the top 10 was Marcus Armstrong as the New Zealander started from 11th, Christian Lundgaard in 12th, David Beckmann in 13th, Richard Verschoor in 14th, Bent Viscaal in 15th, Lirim Zendeli in 16th, Roy Nissany in 17th, Guilherme Samaia in 18th, Marino Sato in 19th, Enzo Fittipaldi in 20st and Alessio Deledda in 21st.

After his crash on the way to the grid yesterday, Felipe Drugovich was declared unfit to race and had to sit out this one.

As It Happened

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Piastri got a great launch off the line as he sped down to turn two. Daruvala, Boschung and Pourchaire went three-wide as they fought for second place with the former dropping down to fourth behind the Frenchman and the Swiss driver.

Viscaal tangled with Nissany at turn two as the Trident driver jumped out of his car and retired from the race which saw the Virtual Safety Car released.

Zendeli went into the pits for a front wing change due to losing it on the opening lap as he fell down the order.

Championship contender Zhou tumbled down the order as the Chinese driver fell down from fourth to eighth with his rival Piastri leading the race.

Lawson, who was running on the alternate strategy, lost a position to Armstrong as the DAMS driver moved up to 12th place.

After five laps of racing, Piastri was out in front ahead of Pourchaire in second and Boschung in third. Daruvala was fourth, Shwartzman in fifth, Hughes in sixth, Vips in seventh, Zhou in eighth, Lundgaard in ninth and Ticktum in 10th.

Nissany was handed a five-second time penalty due to the lap one collision with Viscaal. Vips encountered a problem as he tumbled down the order as he eventually pitted to retire from the race.

The trio of Zhou, Lundgaard and Ticktum looked to make up positions as they overtook Hughes who fell down to eighth after he was overtaken by the rapid trio.

Race leader Piastri made his mandatory pit stop on lap nine as he released Pourchaire into the lead. Behind the Frenchman, Ticktum made the move for second as he got ahead of Zhou before the duo pitted for a new set of tyres.

In the race for the net lead, Pourchaire came out ahead of Piastri after his pit stop. Crucially for the Prema man, he got his tyres up to temperature as he danced down the inside of the Frenchman down into turn five.

At the halfway point, Lawson led the race ahead of Samaia, Sato and Nissany with the four drivers yet to pit. Piastri followed in fifth, Pourchaire in sixth, Boschung in seventh, Deledda in eighth, Daruvala in ninth and Shwartzman in 10th.

With the drivers on the alternate strategy ahead of them, Piastri and Pourchaire cleared them within three laps as they were free to race without any traffic in front.

Verschoor made the move on Lundgaard for ninth as Boschung locked up into turn two which saw him fall behind Daruvala and Shwartzman.

With five laps to go, Piastri led the race with Pourchaire in second and Daruvala in third. Shwartzman ran fourth, Boschung in fifth, Ticktum in sixth, Zhou in seventh, Lawson in eighth, Verschoor in ninth and Lundgaard in 10th.

In the dying embers of the race, Boschung’s earlier lock-up cost him the race as he retired from the race with a puncture.

However, Piastri was able to hold onto the victory as Pourchaire and Daruvala rounded out the podium. Shwartzman narrowly missed on a second podium this weekend as he finished fourth ahead of Ticktum, Zhou, Lawson, Verschoor, Lundgaard and Beckmann.

What’s Next?

It is another long break for Formula 2 as the drivers of tomorrow have to wait over two months for their next race at the brand new Jeddah Street Circuit.

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