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formula 2 italian grand prix report

Bortoleto takes stunning win after starting last, Antonelli P4

1 September at 09:58
Last update 1 September at 10:03
  • Olly Darcy
  • Editor

Gabriel Bortoleto used the safety car to his advantage as he took victory after starting right at the back of the grid. He finishes in front of Zane Maloney at the Italian Grand Prix, finishing nine seconds clear of the grid in what was a dominant second-half performance. Richard Verschoor rounded out the podium, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli just finished behind the Dutchman in P4.

Bortoleto battles from the back to win

Pole sitter Zane Maloney got a good start from pole position as championship leader Hadjar lost out. However, Paul Aron in P3 also got a great start, and he looked to get into P1 in the first corner. However, whilst trying to make a move around the outside of Maloney, Aron was shunted from behind by Victor Martins, who locked up and crashed into the back of the Estonian, sending him spinning out and meaning he was forced to retire from the race.

With that hectic start, it meant the Prema pair of Ollie Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were able to move up into P2 and P3, while Joshua Duerksen also moved from P11 to P4 before the safety car came out to move the stalled car of Aron.

After just one lap under safety car conditions, the race restarted, and Maloney showed his pace again. He drove away from Bearman, and the Brit needed to pit after just seven laps as he struggled with his tyres. His teammate Antonelli also showed some struggle, as he was easily overtaken and dropped by Duerksen.

The second safety car of the race was caused by Ritomo Miyata. He drove into the back of Dennis Hauger. Hauger then spun and could not continue driving. During this safety car, part of the half chose to continue driving and part went into the pit lane for new tyres.

Oliver Goethe had his debut in the main race as Franco Colapinto's replacement. The Danish-German driver was leading after the second safety car. However, it was teammates Gabriel Bortoleto and Kush Maini who were able to make the most of their pit stop under the safety car, overtaking Goethe and leading 1-2, with Maloney now back in fourth.

With just over ten laps to go, Maloney was then able to fight his way back up into the podium spots, making a move on Goethe, but out in front, Bortoleto stretched his lead out to take a stunning win. Maini then dropped out of the podium spots altogether at Verschoor and put a late charge on to take the final podium spot, with polesitter Maloney able to jump up into second. For Ollie Bearman, he could only finish seventh after his sprint race win the day before at the 'Temple of Speed'.