In hot weather, the Formula 2 Sprint Race gets underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The track temperature is around 40.8 degrees Celsius, and the air temperature is 25.1 degrees Celsius. The drivers are starting on the hard tyres and are expected to go to the end on these. However, high tyre degradation is expected.
The starting line-up is MAI, VMA, JCO, MIY, ANT, BOR, COL, CRA, ARO, HAD, OSU, HAU, JMA, DUR, BEA, FIT, MAL, ACO, VER, VIL, STA and BAR.
The formation lap gets underway as the drivers try to get their tyres up to temperature ahead of the race start. The formation lap is complete, and the drivers take their places on the starting grid.
The green flag falls as the race gets underway. Victor Martins (VMA) who started in second place gets a good start off the line and overtakes Kush Maini (MAI). Maini, who started on pole, had a poor start and is quickly overtaken by Miyata (MIY) who gets up to P2 and Juan Manuel Correa (JCO) who gets up to P3.
Maini and Gabriel Bortoleto (BOR) overtake Correa who falls to P5, just in front of current championship leader Paul Aron (ARO) who is up to P6 from his P10 starting position. Isack Hadjar (HAD) and Zane Maloney (MAL) have also made significant gains, with Hadjar up to P8 and Maloney up to P13.
As the drivers move into Lap 4, Miyata has closed in on race leader Martins but decides against making a move as they get into Turn 1. Hadjar, however, does try an attack on Kimi Antonelli (ANT) but Antonelli defends well to keep his P7 position. Into Lap 6, Hadjar attempts another attack on Antonelli but is shut down once again. Hadjar is on the radio complaining that Antonelli had been moving a lot under the braking.
Lap 8 and Verschoor (VER) goes past Oliver Bearman (BEA). Bearman is now in P18, down from his P15 start. He loses another position to Stanek (STA) in Lap 10. His engineer comes on the radio to warn him about track limits. Bearman has gone off three times already. The driver responds that he is struggling to turn. Bearman loses further positions to Enzo Fittipaldi (FIT), then to Taylor Barnard (BAR)and Amaury Cordeel (ACO). Bearman now sits last.
Into Lap 10 and the standings are: VMA, MIY, MAI, BOR, JCO, ARO, ANT, HAD, CRA, COL, HAU, OSU, MAL, DUR, JMA, VIL, VER, STA, FIT, BAR, ACO. Current fastest lap is 1:30.617 set by Miyata in Lap 3.
Fittipaldi is on the radio, stating that his right mirror is down and that he cannot see on his right side. His engineer assures him that the team will help him when he can. Elsewhere, Hadjar attacks Antonelli once again. This time, he finally gets ahead. Jak Crawford (CRA) overtakes Antonelli who is not down to P9. Hadjar is now in P7 and Crawford in P8. Antonelli’s teammate, Bearman, who has been struggling throughout the race, is told to box.
There have been a lot of track limit violations noted so far. Penalties are expected.
Fittipaldi overtakes Stanek, as Stanek gets a black and white flag for track limit violations. Dürksen’s engineer comes onto the radio to tell him that Zane Maloney (MAL) has had a black and white flag. Maloney will be investigated for track limit violations.
Ten minutes left and the standings are VMS, MIY, MAI, BOR, JCO, ARO, HAD, CRA, ANT, HAU, COL, OSU, MAL, DUR, JMA, VIL, VER, FIT, STA, ACO, BAR, BEA.
Miyata is given a 5-second time penalty for track limit violations. As the driver is unlikely to have a pit stop, this penalty will be added to his finishing time, and he will likely drop from his P2 position. Elsewhere, Maloney once again exceeds track limits and is given a 5-second time penalty.
Dennis Hauger is chasing Kimi Antonelli for P9. Ahead of them, Correa attacks Bortoleto. Bortoleto defends well to keep Correa behind, but Aron catches up to join the fight between Correa and Bortoleto. No changes in position for any of the drivers yet.
Miyata, still in P2, gets another 5-second penalty. This will also be added to his finishing time.
Hauger’s engineer comes onto the radio, instructing him to try to open a gap as he could have a penalty for track limits. The driver complains that Antonelli has been off the track at Turn 13, and that he’s not been at all. Hauger finally gets ahead of Antonelli.
5 laps remaining, and the current standings are VMA, MIY, MAI, BOR, JCO, ARO, CRA, HAD, HAU, ANT, COL, OSU, MAL, DUR, JMA, VIL, VER, FIT, ACO, STA, BAR, BEA.
The drivers get into the 24th lap, as Rafael Villagómez (VIL) and Antonelli are shown the black and white flag for track limit violations.
Into the second-to-last lap and Aron attempts to get ahead of Correa. Correa finally gets ahead of Bortoleto in Turn 10. As the final lap gets underway, there is a four-way fight for third place between Correa, Bortoleto, Aron, and Crawford. Aron gets ahead of Bortoleto, who then loses another position to Crawford. Bortoleto now sits in P6.
As the checkered flag falls, Martins crosses first to secure P1 after leading the entire race. Miyata crosses the line second but drops to P8 after the time penalties. He will come away with two points, however, as he set the fastest lap time in Lap 3. Maini crosses the line third, followed by Correa. They will join Martins on the podium in P2 and P3 respectively.
As the race ends, the provisional standings are VMA, MAI, JCO, ARO, CRA, BOR, HAD, MIY, HAU, ANT, COL, OSU, DUR, JMA, VIL, VER, ACO, FIT, MAL, BAR, BEA, and STA. However, with ongoing investigations, penalties may be applied, and the order may be changed.
