ROAD TO F1: Tsunoda wins over penalised Mazepin in stunning Belgian F2 Feature Race

Nikita Mazepin left nothing in the tank as he finished first in the Formula 2 Feature Race, but it was Red Bull junior Yuki Tsunoda who clinched a second win of the season, after a late time penalty dropped the Hitech racer down to second in dramatic circumstances.

The duo had diced back and forth for the entire race after a slow pitstop lost Tsunoda track position and gave Mazepin the provisional race lead. The Russian fought desperately to cling on at the chequered flag, fending off a number of valiant attacks from Tsunoda.

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Mazepin thought he’d done enough as he crossed the line, until news broke that he’d been given a 5s time penalty for forcing the Carlin driver off the road, which dropped him to second.

Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher steered clear of the drama out in front to coolly collect a fifth podium of the year – the highest tally in F2 this season – and boost his own title chances, putting him within 28 points of the championship lead.

Fellow FDA member Robert Shwarztman secured fifth and took a chunk out of title rival Callum Ilott’s advantage at the top of the standings. It wasn’t the UNI-Virtuosi driver’s day, as he struggled with tyre degradation and finished back in P10.

Williams junior Roy Nissany made the alternate strategy work to score an F2 career-high finish of eighth, which hands him reverse grid pole in the Sprint Race on Sunday at 1110 local time.

For more on F2, visit the official series website.