F2 | Sprint Race | Bahrain GP | Martí storms from 11th to victoryF2 | Sprint Race | Bahrain GP | Martí storms from 11th to victory - Motorsport

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F2 headed to Bahrain for the second round of the season for the season’s first feature race, after Australia was cancelled due to the weather, and second sprint race, full report and results below. Invicta Racing’s Fornaroli was the quickest in qualifying, followed by Martins and Browning. The sprint race saw its usual reverse grid format, with Düksen and Beganovic starting on the front row.

Action from lights out

A brilliant start from Dürksen meant he had a comfortable lead from the opening of the race. Beganovic followed in second place, followed by Villagomez.

Browning had a poor start and was very slow moving off his grid spot, losing multiple places as the lights went out.

Also in a Williams Academy livery, Martins went off the track as he was pushed off by Dunne, who was forced to move to the left as two cars were on his right. The yellow flags briefly came out for Martins.

After scoring points in Australia in his sprint race F2 debut, PREMA Racing’s Montoya spun out after contact in Lap 1 at the Bahrain GP Round, bringing out the safety car. The safety car was deployed on the second lap to recover his car, which was stranded on Turn 8. Cordeel later received a 10-second time penalty for causing this collision.

ART Grand Prix’s Martins came into the pits for a new tyres and a front wing after hitting the bollards when he went off.

Esterson came into pits on Lap 2 under the safety car and struggled to get car going again, needing assistance from his pit crew.

Safety car restart

Durksen kept his lead of the race after the safety car restart. He put his foot down, quickly drawing out a lead of just under a second to Beganovic.

Dunne attempted a late move into Turn 1 on Verschoor for fourth place. The MP Motorsport driver showed some impressive defensive driving and kept his position.

On Lap 6, Marti overtook Dunne by going off track, taking advantage of the extra concrete on the side of the track. By Lap 8, Dunne overtook Martí to reclaim his place.

Browning made an attempt to join this fight, looking to overtake Martí on Turn 4 of Lap 9 for sixth place, but was unable to overtake the Campos Racing driver.

Multiple fights were happening in the top seven, as Verschoor caught up to Villagómez in the final podium position. On Lap 10 MP Motorsport’s Verschoor finally made his overtake stick.

Out in front, Beganovic caught up to Dürksen by Lap 11 and was keen to overtake the AIX Racing driver in the lead. Dürksen did not defend much, and came on the radio that he let go of the lead so that he could go into a tyre management phase and try to catch him with fresher tyres towards the end of the race.

The drivers went into a tyre management phase, but by lap 16 the safety car was redeployed as Esterson went off track and could not get started again.

Close racing with five laps to go after safety car

Though it is not mandatory for drivers to make a pit stop during a Formula 2 Sprint Race, in Bahrain, seven drivers out of the points came into the pits for fresh tyres under the safety car. Dams Lucas Oil’s Maini first came into the pits, later followed by Mini, Crawford, Goethe, Foraroli, Miyata and Cordeel.

There was action up and down the track upon the safety car restart on Lap 19.

Beganovic led the second race restart, but was soon overtaken by Dürksen. Marti, Verschoor and Dunne also raced closely for the final podium spot. There was contact between Dunne and Browning into turn 6, but both drivers were able to continue.

Despite the close racing, all drivers made it through the second restart.

Browning gained two positions on Lap 20 on Dunne and Lindblad.

Mini, having pitted and on fresher tyres, made it to P11

Crawford, Goethe and Minì were three wide on Lap 10, all trying to make up positions to P8 for the final points position in the sprint. There was close contact between the drivers but they all made it through, with Crawford losing positions going down to P16, Goethe keeping P11 and Mini P12.

Drama on last laps for the win

Dürksen and Beganovic continued racing closely, but Verschoor and Marti caught up, with all four drivers racing within one second and in contention for the win by Lap 21.

Without DRS, Düksen went into the Lap 22 desperate to break the tow to the drivers behind him. Beganovic tried to overtake for the race lead but was unsuccessful.

On turn 8, Verschoor and Marti got their elbows out and made the overtake on Beganovic. By Turn 9, Marti had overtaken Verschoor for second place.

On the final lap of the Formula 2 Bahrain sprint, Marti began the race in the lead having overtaken Dürksen.

Dunne made contact with Miyata, damaging his car and bringing out the yellow flag.

Racing continued in front as Verschoor looked to make a move on Dürksen. The MP Motorsport driver was successful in turn 12, claiming second place.

Having worked his way up from P11, Marti crossed the finish line to claim his second Formula 2 race win.