Isack Hadjar has snatched the Championship lead from Paul Aron after a win in the F2 Feature Race at the 2024 British GP. The Red Bull Junior clinched the win in a race split by two different strategies, followed by Maloney with his second podium of the weekend. Jak Crawford, who initially reached the chequered flag first, was demoted to P3 following a penalty for a pit lane incident with Maloney.
The race was littered with penalties; some for causing collisions and some for track limit violations in the countless battles that took place across the 29 laps. Drivers like Paul Aron and Crawford lost out on valuable points, while those who kept their nose clean were able to capitalise.
As it Happened
Championship contender Isack Hadjar would start the F2 Feature Race at the 2024 British GP in P1. Beside the first-time Polesitter was ART’s Victor Martins with the two MP Motorsport drivers Dennis Hauger and Franco Colapinto behind. There were cars spinning before the lights even went out, with Bortoleto going for a spin at Stowe on the formation lap.
At Lights Out
The majority of drivers are on the soft compound tyre, while some started on the hard compound to give themselves strategic freedom during the race. Those starting on the hard compound included Williams Junior Colapinto, hungry for some Championship points.
A better start for Martins saw him take the lead into Turn 1. The PREMA of Oliver Bearman shot from P5 to P2, while Hadjar slipped down the pack. Bortoleto tried to make a move around the outside of Maloney to take P5, with the two engaging in a battle around the Silverstone track.
First-Lap Safety Car
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was out at Turn 4 on the first lap. It was a far cry from the Sprint, where he secured his first win in F3. The PREMA collided with Bortoleto, taking the Mercedes Junior out of the race.
Safety car ended on Lap 2. Bearman was hot on the tail of Martins at the restart, and both drivers shot off down the Hamilton Strait as Lap 3 began. Meanwhile, Hauger was going wheel to wheel with his teammate Colapinto down in P8. Colapinto was struggling to get heat into the Hard compound tyres, but was ultimately saved for the time being by yet another Safety Car. This time it was Joshua Dürksen was beached in the gravel after a spin, demoting him to P21. Championship leader Aron was involved and the incident was noted by the Stewards.
Moments later, Aron entered the pits with a puncture from the collision with Dürksen – this did not count as a mandatory stop as the race had not reached Lap 6. The Championship leader would need to stop again. Maini also entered the pits early, opting for the Hard tyre compound. He was forced to pit due to damage from Antonelli’s first-lap incident.
The Safety Car re-entered the pits as it hit Lap 7, meaning the grid had didn’t have the chance to make a cheap stop under the Safety Car. Martins got the jump on Bearman at the restart, catching the Brit off guard. The Trident of Verschoor was first into the pits, followed by Fittipaldi.
Down in P3, Hadjar was on Bearman’s tail following the PREMA driver’s poor restart. The Red Bull Junior was just 0.2s off Bearman, determined to get himself up to P2. Crawford had joined the fight behind by Lap 8.
Pit Stop Troubles for Bearman
The fierce battle between Hadjar and Bearman rumbled on until Bearman was pulled into the pits. Hadjar was in as well, continuing the showdown down the pit lane. A quick stop from Hadjar saw him speed off, while the PREMA team struggled to get the right rear on the car of Bearman. To make matters worse, Bearman was noted by stewards for a pit lane infringement. Meanwhile, the Stewards were dealing with Rafael Villagomez, who received a ten-second penalty for overtaking behind Safety Car.
The next lap saw race leader Martins enter the pits. The stop was slow, hindering his chances at a podium. In yet another bout of pit lane drama, Crawford and Maloney almost collided as Crawford forced his way out in front. The incident was noted by the Stewards and ultimately lost Crawford the victory.
Colapinto was up into the lead by Lap 11 after race leader Hauger entered the pits. Juan Manuel Correa was now in P2 just half a second behind, followed by Roman Stanek. Further down the grid, Hadjar was off the circuit in a bid to get past Martins. Martins was down in P12 after their pit stop, but held the net race lead.
Aron’s Championship Demotion
Aron’s race – and Championship lead – was dealt a crushing blow as he was hit with 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Dürksen.
At the half-way point of the F2 Feature Race at the Silverstone GP weekend, it was Colapinto in P1. Correa had slipped back 1.3s behind in P2, and Pepe Martí sat in P3 a further 3.3s back. Martins was still holding off Hadjar for the net race lead. Aron was through past Ritomo Miyata in a bid to negate the ten-second penalty; a tough task at hand around a track like Silverstone.
Battles were rumbling on all over the track as the race entered its final ten laps. Hadjar was keeping the pressure on Martins in the middle of the pack. Bortoleto was up past Verschoor further back for what would be valuable points by the end of the race.
The scrap for the win continued and Hadjar was off the road. However, it was Martins who was off next and crucially, he was unable to get back on. Crawford took advantage of the squabbling duo in front, snatching the lead from Hadjar. However, Crawford’s overtake was soon worth nothing. He was handed a five-second penalty for the earlier unsafe release in the pits.
Misery for Martins
Martins had dropped back significantly, dropping behind Maloney who was now sitting in P14, net P3. He was unable to find a place to rejoin the track following the squabble with Hadjar. Maloney was now on the tail of Hadjar up ahead, once again threatening Hadjar’s win.
Colapinto out front was building a strong lead by Lap 22, six seconds ahead of Correa. Both were looking to maximise the gap to their competitors to negate the loss of places after their mandatory pit stop. Taylor Barnard and Miyata were in the pits on Lap 22, setting the second wave of pit stops in motion.
All eyes were on Colapinto in the pits on Lap 23. The MP team pulled off a good stop for Colapinto, sending him shooting out onto the track on a set of Softs. He was swiftly passed by Martins on a much warmer set of tyres, and Bearman was now looming in his mirrors. However, the Argentine driver was able to hold onto P7 while Bearman fought with Bortoleto behind. By Lap 14, Colapinto was on the hunt for Martins once again.
Disappointment for Correa
Juan Manuel Correa, fresh out the pits, suffered a puncture. He unfortunately dropped from behind Colapinto to the back of the pack. It was a disappointing end to the DAMS driver’s race after hopes of a good points haul.
On Lap 25, Colapinto swiftly picked off the ART of Martins, clearing away to take the fight to Maloney and Hadjar. The question remained, would he have enough time to have a go at the race win with four laps to go?
Paul Aron was last to stop, pulling into the pits for his mandatory pit stop on Lap 27. His hopes of a cheap stop under a Safety Car never came to fruition, adding more misery to the Championship leader’s day. He filtered back out in P14. Pepe Martí was on the hunt for the last point, edging past Hauger on Lap 27 in a bid to secure it.
Colapinto, desperate to get within five seconds of Crawford who would be demoted with his penalty, was giving it his all to gain on the front pack. The battle was looking to come down to the smallest of margins as the final lap of the F2 Feature Race at the 2024 British GP began.
At the Chequered Flag
Hadjar would be victorious in the Feature, followed by Maloney with a second podium of the weekend. Jak Crawford would hold onto P3 as Colapinto was not able to make up enough time. The American would have to settle for P4 and Martins in P5.
The victory now promotes Hadjar to the lead of the Drivers’ Championship, demoting Aron to P2. Maloney now sits in P3, pushing down Bortoleto to P4.
Photo credit: Formula Motorsport Limited
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