In a thrilling display of skill and composure on the demanding Baku City Circuit, Robert Shwartzman secured his first victory of the 2021 Formula 2 season, converting a hard-fought pole position into a dominant win in the opening sprint race. The Russian driver’s triumph marked a significant moment in his championship campaign, demonstrating his prowess in managing both speed and the unpredictable nature of street circuit racing.
Shwartzman, driving for Prema Racing, had already signaled his intent by clinching pole position for this sprint race in yesterday’s qualifying session. He narrowly edged out UNI-Virtuosi’s Felipe Drugovich for the tenth-fastest time, a margin of just two hundredths of a second underscoring the fierce competition in Formula 2. From the moment the lights went out, Shwartzman executed a flawless getaway, ensuring he remained untroubled by the dramatic events that unfolded directly behind him in the opening sequence of corners.
The very first lap of the race proved to be a chaotic affair, with no less than four cars retiring before the field had even completed a full circulation. The drama began almost immediately at Turn 1, where Hitech Grand Prix driver Jack Aitken spun out, bringing his race to a premature end. Further around the demanding street circuit, the opening lap saw more significant incidents. Felipe Drugovich was involved in contact with championship contender Oscar Piastri, sending the Prema driver into the path of fellow Hitech entrant Juri Vips. While Vips managed to survive the initial contact and continue, the incident proved terminal for Liam Lawson, whose Hitech car ended up in the barriers, forcing his immediate retirement.
Adding to the early mayhem, Alessio Deledda of HWA Racelab found himself in trouble, disappearing up the escape road and being unable to rejoin the race. This unfortunate incident ended HWA’s participation in the proceedings before the first lap had been fully completed. The intensity of these multiple incidents necessitated the deployment of the Safety Car, allowing marshals to safely retrieve the stricken cars of Piastri, Lawson, Aitken, and Deledda. The frustration of the retired drivers was palpable, with Lawson, in particular, making his displeasure very clear over the team radio.
Following the Safety Car period and the subsequent restart, the race dynamics began to shift. Monaco feature race winner Théo Pourchaire, who had initially made a remarkable charge through the field from his seventh-place starting position, found himself struggling. The ART Grand Prix driver reported difficulties in getting his tyres back up to optimum temperature after the prolonged Safety Car intervention, causing him to slip backwards through the order. However, Pourchaire, known for his resilience, showcased his talent by staging an impressive recovery drive. He fought his way back up to finish fifth, securing valuable points and, crucially, bagging the bonus point for setting the fastest lap of the race on the very final tour.
One of the standout performances of the race came from Carlin’s Dan Ticktum. Starting further down the grid, Ticktum drove a superb race, steadily climbing through the field with a combination of strategic overtakes and consistent pace. By lap 12, he had moved into a comfortable second place, demonstrating strong race craft. Although he was ultimately unable to challenge Robert Shwartzman for the lead, Shwartzman having built an insurmountable advantage, Ticktum managed to pull clear of points leader Guanyu Zhou, solidifying his impressive second-place finish and a valuable haul of points for his championship aspirations.
The battle for the minor points positions was equally fierce. Jehan Daruvala, also driving for Carlin, secured a commendable fourth place, though he had to fend off a late charge from the recovering Théo Pourchaire. The two drivers crossed the finish line separated by a mere six-tenths of a second, highlighting the intensity of their duel. Behind them, Ralph Boschung of Campos Racing claimed a strong sixth place. However, Boschung experienced a heart-stopping moment after the chequered flag, as Juri Vips narrowly avoided a collision with him, an incident that could have marred an otherwise successful race for Boschung.
Vips, driving for Hitech Grand Prix, had just concluded an intense fight for seventh place with Marcus Armstrong (DAMS), with Armstrong ultimately taking the position by an incredibly slim margin of six-hundredths of a second. Distracted by this battle and potentially not noticing Boschung slowing down ahead of him, Vips was forced to take evasive action, darting up the escape road to avoid running into the back of the Campos driver. This near-miss served as a stark reminder of the high-speed dangers even after the race officially concludes.
Rounding out the top ten and securing the final points positions were David Beckmann of Charouz Racing System and Bent Viscaal from Trident. Viscaal’s tenth-place finish was particularly significant, as it earned him pole position for the subsequent second sprint race of the afternoon, setting the stage for another thrilling encounter on the Baku streets.
In terms of the championship standings, Guanyu Zhou’s consistent performance, securing a third-place podium finish despite the challenging conditions, allowed him to bolster his lead. The UNI-Virtuosi driver now sits 23 points clear of Théo Pourchaire, who, despite his recovery drive, remains a formidable challenger. Oscar Piastri, unfortunately, suffered a setback with his early retirement from the race, causing him to fall to third in the championship, now trailing the leader by 26 points. The Baku weekend, with its double sprint race format, promised to be pivotal in shaping the early stages of the Formula 2 championship narrative, and this opening race certainly delivered on its promise of drama and intense competition.
Formula 2 Race One Results – Baku Sprint Race 1
| Position | Car | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Robert Shwartzman |
| 2 | 5 | Dan Ticktum |
| 3 | 3 | Guanyu Zhou |
| 4 | 6 | Jehan Daruvala |
| 5 | 10 | Theo Pourchaire |
| 6 | 21 | Ralph Boschung |
| 7 | 17 | Marcus Armstrong |
| 8 | 8 | Juri Vips |
| 9 | 14 | David Beckmann |
| 10 | 24 | Bent Viscaal |
| 11 | 9 | Christian Lundgaard |
| 12 | 11 | Richard Verschoor |
| 13 | 12 | Lirim Zendeli |
| 14 | 4 | Felipe Drugovich |
| 15 | 20 | Matteo Nannini |
| 16 | 16 | Roy Nissany |
| 17 | 15 | Guilherme Samaia |
| 18 | 25 | Marino Sato |
| DNF | 2 | Oscar Piastri |
| DNF | 7 | Liam Lawson |
| DNF | 22 | Jack Aitken |
| DNF | 23 | Alessio Deledda |
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