Tsolov regains F2 lead with dramatic Silverstone sprint victory

Photo: Red Bull

Nikola Tsolov claimed a dramatic late win in the Formula 2 sprint race at Silverstone, passing his championship rival Gabriele Mini on the last lap.

With his victory, Tsolov takes the championship lead, while was Mini was fortunate to hang onto second in the race with Rafael Villagomez close behind in third.

It was Tsolov who got the best start of the field, flying up the order into third from his fifth place grid slot. Mini retained the lead as Villagomez jumped past a slow-starting Ritomo Miyata who fell to fourth from second.

It had been a relatively well behaved start until Trident’s John Bennett found himself stranded on the pit straight. Having claimed victory last time out at the Red Bull Ring, the British driver got tangled up with Sebastian Montoya and Colton Herta after the American forced the Prema driver wide, sending him airborne with Bennett helpless as he rear ended the Colombian.

The safety car neutralised running with both Bennett and Montoya eliminated on the spot.

When racing resumed on lap six, Mini comfortably led the pack away with Villagomez and Tsolov in close pursuit. Cian Shields found himself spun around heading into the Loop following contact with Oliver Goethe, briefly brining out the yellow flags.

With DRS enabled, Tsolov made his move on Villagomez, soaring around the outside of the Mexican and closing up to the back of his championship rival.

Further back, Miyata continued to struggle. The Hitech driver lost more ground as ART’s Tasanapol Inthraphuvusak breezed past with both Joshua Duerksen and Kush Maini finding a way past the Japanese driver too.

Both ART drivers looked racy and while Tsolov closed the gap to Mini making it under a second, Maini found his way past Duerksen for fourth heading into Luffield.

With four laps remaining Tsolov made his first move on Mini, looking on the inside of Stowe but finding the door shut on the inside.

While the front two locked horns, Inthraphuvasak found a way past Duerksen moving into fifth after an impressive move around the outside of Luffield.

With Tsolov and Mini battling, Villagomez was able to close up behind Tsolov as the Bulgarian looked to make a move on the last lap. As the front three headed into Luffield, Tsolov moved to the outside, clinging on to pass Mini for the race lead.

Mini looked to fight back but in doing so became vulnerable to the charging Villagomez who was looking to capitalise on the squabbling two ahead.

With Mini protecting his second place, Tsolov was free to claim a dramatic win which sees the Campos driver leapfrog Mini to now lead the championship. Mini clung onto second with Villagomez claiming a second consecutive sprint race podium.

Race results (21 laps)