Bearman fights back from grid penalty to win Monza F2 sprint race

Photo: Prema

Ollie Bearman recovered from a grid penalty to score his second Formula 2 sprint race win of the season at Monza.

The Prema driver started eighth rather than third on the reversed grid after causing a collision with Pepe Marti last time out at Spa-Francorchamps, but gained three places at the start.

Behind him there was contact between Zak O’Sullivan and Oliver Goethe that sent the latter into the wall on his F2 debut. Bearman’s team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli – who started 15th after a 10-place penalty for repeated dry-ice infringements – then tangled with O’Sullivan at the first chicane, breaking his front wing and slicing his front-left tyre.

At the front, Enzo Fittipaldi got away well from pole, unlike fellow front-row starter Amaury Cordeel, but still entered the first chicane under pressure from Marti and cut across the inside of turn one, enabling Marti to take the lead before the safety car neutralised the race.

Fittipaldi was right on Marti’s tail at the restart and pulled ahead under braking but locked up and went straight on, meaning Marti kept the lead and both Victor Martins and Bearman also got by into the Roggia chicane.

Bearman took second from Martins into the Roggia on the following tour, and less than two laps later was able to challenge Marti down the main staight. Marti went deep into turn one and had to give up the lead.

Martins got past Marti one lap later, but their fight allowed Bearman to break over one second clear. After a lap, Marti lunged back at Martins but they both ended up cutting across the chicane.

ART Grand Prix driver Martins then went chasing after Bearman, but would finish 1.6 seconds behind despite setting the fastest lap right at the end.

Marti meanwhile was passed by Fittipaldi and Joshua Duerksen in successive laps, and Duerksen – who started 10th – passed Fittipaldi on lap 13 of 21 to finish a comfortable third and take the second podium of his rookie season.

Fittipaldi would fall back behind Marti before the end, and Zane Maloney also dived past him for fifth at the Roggia on the last lap. Jak Crawford got by Fittipaldi too and almost pipped Maloney to the line.

Paul Aron slowed and pitted with damage after going side-by-side with Maloney in the first chicane with two laps to go.

Dennis Hauger just held off a charging Gabriel Bortoleto – who started 22nd and last – in a photo finish for the final point in eighth while championship leader Isack Hadjar was a muted 10th.

Race results (21 laps)