F2: Vesti moves into championship lead by controlling Monaco Feature Race despite red flag

Frederik Vesti took the lead of the Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship with an impressive win on the streets of Monte Carlo for PREMA Racing.

The Mercedes Junior Team driver led the way from lights out, overcoming a red flag stoppage and two Safety Car periods.

F2: Iwasa takes Drivers’ Championship lead with Monaco Sprint win

Comfortable in the first stint from the ART Grand Prix pair of Victor Martins and Theo Pourchaire behind, the Dane built up a five-second advantage ahead of the leaders’ mandatory pit stops.

That moment arrived after a crash for Jack Doohan at the top of the hill on Lap 22, which left his car stricken at Turn 4. The fire was swiftly put out, but barrier repairs necessitated a red flag on Lap 24 after the Safety Car had initially been deployed.

Back to racing in Lap 27 with a rolling restart, the ART Grand Prix team mates were battling until Martins was hit with a drive-through penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags during the first Safety Car phase. The penalty dropped the Frenchman from second position to eighth.

After the race restart, Vesti led comfortably from Pourchaire behind, securing his second race win of the 2023 F2 season and the lead of the Drivers’ Championship along with it.

Pourchaire kept within touching distance on the road and in the standings. He maintained his impressive Monaco Feature Race record with another P2 finish, the worst result he’s had in the Principality in an F2 Feature Race.

F3: Marti sails to lights-to-flag Monaco Sprint Race victory

Zane Maloney scored Rodin Carlin’s second Feature Race podium in as many weekends, finishing third for his second F2 rostrum appearance of the season.

To read an in-depth report of the Monte Carlo Feature Race, visit the official Formula 2 website here.