F2: Vesti dominates in wet Silverstone Sprint Race

Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti was in a league of his own as he strengthened his Championship lead with a third victory of the season. A heavy downpour ahead of the Sprint Race left the circuit drenched, but Vesti overcame a rolling start and one Safety Car restart to breeze to victory by over 13 seconds.

Theo Pourchaire lost out early on but fought back to take second, whilst Jack Doohan was locked into a relentless battle in the later stages with Oliver Bearman but overcame the Briton for third.

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Tricky conditions on the opening lap saw Brad Benavides tagged by Clement Novalak, as the pair tried to avoid a slowing Ayumu Iwasa, triggering an early Safety Car.

Once racing resumed on Lap 4, Vesti steadily pulled miles clear of the pack, as his PREMA Racing teammate Bearman flew past Pourchaire and Isack Hadjar with two brave moves into second. However, a spin at Club undid his efforts two laps later, and Pourchaire soon found his own way through on Hadjar in the Hitech Pulse-Eight car.

The mistake allowed Doohan to close in on the Briton to set up a lengthy duel. Firstly, he seemed to have got the move done, but was squeezed onto the run-off at Stowe. Bearman then made his own dive past Hadjar at Copse, with Doohan following through. Forced on the defensive, Bearman locked up into Vale, running into the gravel, dropping behind the Alpine Academy junior who assumed the final podium spot.

F3: Franco Colapinto wins rainy Silverstone Sprint Race

Enzo Fittipaldi and Hadjar eventually demoted the Ferrari junior to sixth, as Victor Martins and Arthur Leclerc rounded out the top eight points scorers.

Martins will now be aiming for his maiden victory when he lines up on pole for Sunday’s Feature Race at 09:55 local time.