Fornaroli holds off Lindblad in Monza sprint race for another F2 win

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Leonardo Fornaroli extended his Formula 2 points lead by holding off Arvid Lindblad for victory in the Monza sprint race.

Hitech GP’s Dino Beganovic and Trident’s Sami Meguetounif shared the reversed grid front row, and despite a good start Meguetounif came under attack from Fornaroli on lap one.

The Invicta Racing driver swept past, but before he could challenge for the lead, the safety car was brought out.

Further down the order, DAMS’ Kush Maini was attempting to find a way past Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Dunne and the two came together. Maini was sent spinning into the gravel and out of the race.

Racing resumed on lap five,and Fornaroli lined up a move heading into the first corner but locked up and went straight on. He returned to the track ahead of Beganovic but handed the position back, then remained close to the race leader and made a move at the same corner a few laps later. This time it stuck.

Campos Racing’s Lindblad soon followed Fornaroli past Beganovic. He stayed with the new leader, while Beganovic came under pressure from MP Motorsport’s Oliver Goethe. 

As Goethe battled Beganovic he went at the opening chicane and span, dropping down the order. AIX Racing’s Joshua Duerkson soon took up the challenge to Beganovic, allowing the top two to break away slightly.

Lindblad stayed within DRS range of Fornaroli, but he did not put a wheel wrong and in the last few laps he had a pace advantage of half a second per lap to deny Lindblad use of DRS and claim his fourth win of 2025.

Beganovic managed to hold off Duerkson, but was handed a five-second penalty for a virtual safety car infringement after Trident’s Max Esterson had come to a stop on track with three laps remaining so Duerksen made the podium.

Anticipating a full safety car period, Goethe pitted for fresh tyres but everybody else stayed out as the VSC period ran for one lap. The penalty demoted Beganovic to sixth, behind MP’s Richard Verschoor and Invicta’s Roman Stanek.

Verschoor had managed to snatch what would become fourth from Stanek shortly after the VSC period ended.

Meguetounif was taken out of the fight after making contact with Dunne. He had gone off, clipped a kerb and collided with Dunne as he returned to the track. Both drivers were able to keep going but Meuetounif pitted to retire. Dunne reported damage, but was told to continue by his team and finished 11th.

Campos’s Pepe Marti suffered front wing damage but managed to finish ninth, and Sebastian Montoya rounded out the top 10.

Race results (37 laps)