Formula 2
ARMSTRONG WRESTLES TO MAIDEN VICTORY OVER FELLOW KIWI LAWSON IN FIRST RACE AT JEDDAH
DAMS’ Marcus Armstrong clinched a long-awaited and well-deserved first Formula 2 victory in Sprint Race 1, beating Hitech Grand Prix pair Liam Lawson and Jüri Vips in an enthralling opening race at Jeddah.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 04: Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand and DAMS (17) drives during sprint race 1 of Round 7:Jeddah of the Formula 2 Championship at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on December 04, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Since starting his F2 career off with two podiums in the opening two rounds of 2020, the 2019 Formula 3 vice-champion has only taken one more top-three finish, with a switch to DAMS failing to re-ignite his fortunes, but the Kiwi looked rejuvenated in Saudi Arabia as a lightning getaway saw him pass reverse polesitter Lawson on Lap 1.
The Kiwi duo ended the race in first and second, with Lawson followed by his Hitech teammate Vips in third. Felipe Drugovich finished fourth ahead of Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala, who enjoyed a superb afternoon, climbing an impressive six spots for P5.
obert Shwartzman, Christian Lundgaard and Dan Ticktum took the final points positions, with the latter completing a last-lap overtake of Championship leader Oscar Piastri. The PREMA driver’s primary title rival, Guanyu Zhou, suffered a race to forget, spinning in the early stage and ending up 17th