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F2 Feature Race | 2024 Spanish GP | A special race for DAMS as Crawford bring home the win, with Correa in P3

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Jamie Cooper
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The F2 Feature race in Barcelona commenced under tough circumstances.

Juan Manuel Correa, originally third in the F2 Spanish GP Sprint race, was stripped of his podium position due to a post-race time penalty, one of several issued by the Stewards. Victor Martins secured his second F2 win and 10th podium, finishing over four seconds ahead after penalties. Kush Maini recovered to take P2, while Correa, initially celebrating his first F2 podium since his 2019 Spa accident, was ultimately down to P8.

The lights go green

Paul Aron had a strong start, maintaining his lead ahead of Jak Crawford and Franco Colapinto.

The race was soon interrupted by a Safety Car due to a collision between Dennis Hauger and Victor Martins at Turn 2, leaving both drivers in the gravel and necessitating the removal of their cars from the track.

Isack Hadjar moved up to fifth, and Oliver Bearman advanced to ninth at the start of the race.

The race resumed on lap 4, with Hadjar attacking Gabriel Bortoleto for fourth, but Bortoleto held firm. Paul Aron extended his lead to over a second ahead of Jak Crawford, setting the fastest lap with a 1:29.205. Enzo Fittipaldi aimed to pass Bearman while Zane Maloney held P11.

Aron increased his lead to two and a half seconds over Crawford. The hard tyre runners started to shine, with Joshua Duerksen overtaking Hadjar for fifth. Crawford led Ayumu Iwasa and Zak O’Sullivan into the pits to swap their softs for hard tyres.

Fittipaldi and Maloney followed, but Aron stayed out. A slow stop for Fittipaldi allowed Maloney to get ahead.

Bortoleto pitted during lap 11, while Aron stayed out. Crawford began setting fast times, making it close. Aron and Colapinto then pitted. A slow stop for Aron allowed Crawford to overtake for the net race lead.

Colapinto came out ahead of Bortoleto, but Bortoleto quickly reclaimed a podium spot.

A virtual safety car was deployed as Taylor Barnard has stopped on track.

Once racing resumed, Aron was within DRS range of Crawford, considering a move. Meanwhile, Maloney was holding off Hadjar for P13, with the Frenchman showing excellent tyre warm-up.

Aron loses the lead in Barcelona

In lap 17, Aron lost control at the final corner, going through the gravel but avoiding the wall. He lost positions to Bortoleto, Colapinto, and O’Sullivan. Hadjar finally passed Maloney for P12.

Another virtual safety car was deployed as Duerksen, who had been leading, stopped on track. Unlucky for both AIX Racing drivers.

Racing was back, underway and Bortoleto had managed to keep Colapinto behind, while Aron had overtaken O’Sullivan.

On lap 28, Hadjar became the latest driver to pass O’Sullivan, and then the ART driver came under pressure from Maloney. Colapinto overtook Bortoleto, potentially securing second place once everyone had pitted. Colapinto closed in on Crawford for the net race lead, while Aron chased down Bortoleto, setting up for an exciting final few laps.

Aron then passed Bortoleto for a potential podium place. Correa, who came out in eighth, immediately overtook Maloney. With seven laps left, Correa’s final position was uncertain, but he rapidly moved through the field, passing both Hadjar and Bortoleto.

Antonelli took the fastest lap from Aron on lap 31, with a 1:27.918.

Correa overtakes Aron

In the final stages of the race, Correa moved past Aron down the main straight, setting his sights on Colapinto, raising the possibility of a DAMS 1-2 finish.

Meanwhile, Hadjar overtook Bortoleto, and just behind them, Maini passed Maloney for P8 at Turn 2.

Hadjar then closed in on Aron, potentially passing his title rival, while Bortoleto and Maini battled over P6.

On the final lap, Bortoleto and Maini collided at Turn 1 but managed to continue, with Maini securing P6.

Crawford wins F2 Feature Race in Barcelona

Crawford claimed the victory, followed by Colapinto in P2, Correa in P3, Aron in P4, Hadjar in P5, Maini in P6, Bortoleto in P7, Maloney in P8, Cordeel in P9, and Martí rounding out the top 10.

Photo Credits: Formula 2 | X