F2 News: Bortoleto last-to-first in Monza feature race victory

Gabriel Bortoleto went from last on the grid to the top step of the podium as the Invicta Racing driver dominated and claimed victory in the Monza Feature Race.

The Brazilian driver took advantage of a pit stop under Safety Car conditions to move into the effective race lead before driving into the distance to take his second win of the season. Pole-sitter Zane Maloney finished second for Rodin Motorsport, with Richard Verschoor in third for Trident.

AS IT HAPPENED

It was a brilliant start from pole for Maloney, likewise for third-placed Paul Aron, although it was a slow getaway for Championship leader Isack Hadjar.

However, there was drama at Turn 1 as Josep María Martí locked up into the corner following his fast start, sending him into the back of Aron, who was out of the race following the contact. The Campos Racing driver was later given a 10-second penalty for the incident.

The Safety Car was called upon and with the track cleared, racing resumed on Lap 3 as Maloney led Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Just behind them, Hadjar, who had dropped to fifth, made up one position after getting ahead of the fast-starting AIX Racing car of Joshua Duerksen only for the AIX driver to retake the position down the main straight on Lap 5.

As Lap 6 got underway, Maloney had a lead of over a second and a half to Bearman, while Duerksen was on the charge, getting ahead of Antonelli heading to Turn 1.

PREMA Racing then brought Bearman into the pit lane to swap his Supersofts for the Medium tyres, with Martins following him in to do the same.

Antonelli was one of a several drivers in on the following lap, with Maloney, Duerksen, Hadjar, Crawford, Zak O’Sullivan, Cordeel, and Enzo Fittipaldi in to fit the Mediums.

But just as they came out of the pit lane, the Safety Car was called upon with Dennis Hauger having spun at Turn 1 following contact with Ritomo Miyata. This gave Bortoleto, Martí, Verschoor, Miyata and Rafael Villagómez the chance to pit.

Significantly, Bortoleto was now the net race leader having started in P22, with Verschoor behind and Maloney third in the queue of those to have made their mandatory pit stop.

We returned to racing on Lap 11 of 30 with the MP Motorsport debutant Oliver Goethe leading Invicta’s Kush Maini.

As the drivers got ready to start Lap 13, Maloney made a significant move as he got ahead of Verschoor heading to Parabolica. This put him right on the back of Bortoleto, but only briefly as the Brazilian got ahead of Juan Manuel Correa heading to Turn 1.

Bortoleto and Maloney were picking their way through the field as the former got ahead of Goethe for P2, while the latter pulled off another move at Parabolica on Correa.

Lap 15 got underway in dramatic fashion as Bearman collided with Correa at Turn 1, giving the DAMS Lucas Oil driver front wing damage which knocked him out of the race, as Martins took advantage to get ahead of the Briton.

Moments later, Bortoleto took the lead from teammate Maini heading to the Roggia chicane.

On to Lap 18 and Maloney was losing time to Bortoleto in the battle for the race win as he struggled to get past Goethe.

He eventually made the move heading into the Ascari chicane later in the lap, but he was now over four seconds clear behind Bortoleto out in front.

As we started Lap 23 of 30, Martins, Bearman and Antonelli were battling for sixth.

On the next lap, the two PREMA drivers went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1, with Antonelli getting ahead at the exit of Turn 2. Bearman tried to stay on the outside but dipped a tyre in the gravel, giving Duerksen the chance to make it past.

The Italian was on the charge and got ahead of Martins down the main straight to get up to P5, with Goethe having finally pitted and dropped to P16.

Martins lost another place on Lap 28, with Duerksen getting ahead under braking into Turn 1.

Maini came in on Lap 29, leaving Bortoleto out front by himself for the final two tours before crossing the line to take his second victory of the season.

Maloney followed him home, almost nine seconds behind, to take P2 ahead of Verschoor for Trident at their home race weekend.

Antonelli was able to keep hold of P4 ahead of Duerksen, with Martins in sixth. Bearman finished seventh, Villagómez in eighth, Crawford in ninth as Fittipaldi took the final point in P10.

KEY QUOTE – Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing

“The best race of my life just done, P22 to P1, Feature Race at Formula 2 in Monza. Super happy, thanks to the team and everyone that supported me this weekend after a hard Friday. Being able to finish the weekend like this, 25 points on the table, it’s just magnificent, so thanks to everyone.”

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Isack Hadjar retains the lead of the Championship despite not scoring with the Campos Racing driver on 165 points. However, Gabriel Bortoleto has taken a sizeable chunk out of his lead as he moves to 154.5 points following the victory.

Zane Maloney is back up into the top three following his podium result as he sits on 135 points, nine ahead of Paul Aron who drops to fourth. Jak Crawford’s double point scoring weekend sees him move to 105 points but stay in fifth.

On the Teams side of things, Invicta Racing are back on top of the Standings with 228.5 points, with Campos on 208 in second. MP Motorsport stay third with 179.5 points although Rodin Motorsport, now on 164, have closed in on them in fourth. Hitech Pulse-Eight continue to round out the top five though despite not scoring this weekend on 153 points.

2024 Monza Feature Race Results – 30 Laps