In his Formula 2 debut, Christian Mansell starts the sprint race from pole position after qualifying 10th in yesterday’s qualifying session.
Lined up alongside him is Dams’ Crawford, with Mini starting 3rd for his F2 debut with Prema, replacing Ollie Bearman this weekend while he steps up for F1 duties with his future team, Haas.
Five lights are out and Mansell leads into turn 1 and Crawford drops to 4th. Zane Maloney makes a few risky moves in the first three corners and makes his way up to 6th but a clean first lap overall.
Maloney and Maini battle through the first few corners, Maloney losing the position to Martins.
Only 0.695 seconds separates Mansell and Mini mid-way through the second lap. Mansell continuing to lengthen the gap.
After a less than great first few corners and laps, Bortoleto has dropped from 5th to 8th.
Mini drops out of Mansell’s DRS as Duerksen applies pressure on him.
Hauger and Verschoor go side by side into and through turn 1, both trying to claim 12th into turn 2, with Verschoor coming out on top.
A lock up from Mansell leaves him with a bald spot on his tyre.
Mini gets on the breaks late and dives down the inside of Mansell. Mansell tries to fight back, but unable to take the position.
Duerksen dives around Mansell into turn 1 and takes 2nd place from him. Maini and Martins battle through turn 1, Maloney moving up on Martins but Maini staying ahead of both.
Antonelli stalks the rear of Browning looking for an opportunity to grab his position.
Verschoor pits on lap 10 for super softs.
Martins gets a run on Maloney down the front straight, unable to make a move on him into turn 1, finally passing Maloney on the inside of turn 3.
Bortoleto tries to gain position on Maloney on the run down to turn 1, unable to take 7th from him.
Duerksen is right on the tail of Mini. Mini has a slight moment, losing time on Duerksen who soon overtakes him for the lead.
A yellow flag is waved in sector 2, after Goethe goes off into the run off in turn 15.
Duerksen has built a 1.8s gap on Mini at the beginning of lap 14.
Antonelli moves up on Maloney for 8th place.
Aron makes his move on Browning for 10th place.
At the completion on lap 14, Duerksen has created a 3.8s gap on Mini.
Crawford and Martins both make a pass on Mansell into turn 1, pushing him back to 5th place, while they move up to 3rd and 4th respectively.
A yellow flag is waved in sector 1 as Miyata finds the barriers in turn 3, his breaks setting alight.
The safety car is released for the first time in this race on lap 15. A number of drivers pit for super softs.
The safety car returns to the pitlane on the completion of lap 17.
Cordeel and Fittipaldi are noted for an unsafe release.
Maini and Antonelli lock up on the restart. Crawford moves up on Mini for 2nd into turn 1. Antonelli moves up on Maini.
Bortoleto and Mansell make contact and Bortoleto taps the wall of turn 3 but continues on.
Yellow flags wave in sectors 1 and 2 after Cordeel spins, facing backwards between turns 5 and 6, after contact with Goethe. Goethe then goes off again in turn 15.
Antonelli and Mansell battle into and through turns 1 and 2 for 7th with Antonelli taking the place.
Mansell and Bortoleto are noted for their turn 3 incident. Cordeel and Goethe also noted for their incident.
Duerksen holds almost a 2s lead into the final lap of the race.
Duerksen wins his first Formula 2 race with a 3.5s lead on Crawford. Mini stands on the final step of the podium on his Formula 2 debut.
