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Dennis Hauger’s heroic drive saw him storm to glory as he made up 11 positions over the 24 lap race. The Norweigan was able to pick up the pieces when Matteo Nannini and Clement Novalak cost themselves a top-three finish.
Starting Grid
On pole position was Logan Sargeant, the American qualified 12th in Friday’s qualifying session which saw him start at the front for the first race of the weekend. Alongside the Charouz driver on the front row of the grid was Matteo Nannini who qualified 11th.
On row two, Victor Martins lined up alongside Arthur Leclerc with the duo third and fourth respectively. The Monegasque hoped to replicate his victorious heroics of the French Grand Prix.
On row six, Frederik Vesti lined up ahead of Championship leader Dennis Hauger who took pole in Friday’s hectic qualifying session.
As It Happened
Off the line, it was Nannini who got the best start into turn one. Further down the field, Vesti was unable to get away cleanly and fell down the order like a stone.
In the chaotic turn one, Martins was forced to take avoiding action on the exit of the corner and run wide. Thankfully for the Frenchman, he was able to re-join safely and continue.
Moments later at turn three, Olli Caldwell promoted himself into third position. At the front, Sargeant tried to retake the lead from Nannini into turn four but the Italian held off the Charouz man’s threat.
Ido Cohen retired from the race early on as the Israeli driver’s car was left stationary out of turn four which in turn released the Virtual Safety Car.
On lap five, the race resumed as Sargeant continued to pile pressure on Nannini. A lap later, the American tried to make a move at turn four but he wisely backed out from it.
Soon after, Martins clipped the gravel on the exit of turn four which forced him to pull off a fantastic save, however, the Frenchman dropped from fifth to seventh.
On lap nine, Sargeant used DRS to assist a move into the lead up the inside of Nannini at turn four, which was a popular overtaking hotspot throughout the race.
The Italian reclaimed the lead into turn three on the next lap. The hold-up gave Clement Novalak the chance to move up to second which he grabbed with both hands.
Dennis Hauger was a man on a mission as he continued to climb up the field. On lap 11, he slotted his Prema car up the inside of Jack Doohan at turn one which moved him up to fifth.
In the tight battle for the lead, Novalak took the lead from Nannini at turn three. The Italian wouldn’t back down as he reclaimed the lead a corner later with Novalak dropping to third behind Sargeant.
Behind this tussle, Arthur Leclerc’s DRS got stuck open which saw him run on at turn four, forcing him to retire from the race.
On lap 12, Sargeant and Nannini battled between turns three and four, before Sargeant got back into the lead and made the move stick at turn four. Only a lap later, Nannini used DRS to breeze past Sargeant before turn four and back up into first.
Sargeant wouldn’t back down as he slipped up the inside of Nannini into turn four on lap 16, but Nannini reclaimed the lead straight away.
On lap 17, Hauger continued his charge for the podium as the Championship leader got past Caldwell into fourth at turn one.
Three corners later, Novalak dived up the inside of Sargeant at turn four which promoted the Frenchman up to second.
The next lap, Sargeant’s struggles continued as Hauger stole his podium place away from him at turn four, despite the American’s best efforts to hold off the Norweigan.
On lap 19, Olli Caldwell was the next driver to overtake Sargeant at turn three, the Brit placed his Prema car up the inside and cleanly got past the Charouz driver.
Two laps later, Nannini tried to go around the outside of Novalak at turn four but got squeezed which saw the two tangle sending both drivers into the gravel. This promoted Hauger into the lead ahead of Caldwell and Sargeant in third.
Jak Crawford and Martins enjoyed a late battle on lap 23. The American got through into fourth at turn three but Martins made a swift reply at turn four.
In the end, it was Hauger who took victory ahead of his Prema teammate Caldwell and Sargeant in third. Rounding out the top 10 was Martins, Crawford, Ciao Collet, Doohan, Nannini, Ayumu Iwasa and Aleksandr Smolyar.
Quotes from the race winner
Dennis Hauger spoke about his race victory and what he expected from the race.
“I didn’t have too many expectations going into the race, I didn’t expect to be up there. From the start, I wanted to keep my nose clean, and then hope the people in front of me would have degraded tyres. I didn’t expect it to go that well!
“It’s definitely one of my best races, it’s one of the most enjoyable that’s for sure!”
Hauger added:
“I saw that Nannini was struggling to get away without DRS, I just held back to see what would happen. At turn four, going around the outside very risky, and they collided.
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