Written by Jasmin Low
The Italian Grand Prix weekend was topped off with an unlikely podium | Image Credit: Formula 2
Formula 2 delivered yet another fantastic weekend of racing at the Temple of Speed, mixing up the championship order yet again with just three rounds left of the 2024 season. The Feature Race topped off the weekend in spectacular style, watching Gabriel Bortoleto take a historic victory as the first driver to win a race from last on the grid. Helped by his pit stop under a safety car and his ability to keep his tyres from falling away, Bortoleto crossed the line nearly 10 seconds ahead of Zane Maloney who came home in second place ahead of Trident’s Richard Verschoor, who also found himself leaving the track with an unlikely trophy in hand.
Following a chaotic start during which championship contender Paul Aron was taken out of the race, failing to see the chequered flag for the second feature race in a row, Maloney was able to escape down the road whilst Bortoleto and Verschoor were left to pick off cars from the rear of the field. The second safety car which was brought out following Dennis Hauger’s contact with Ritomo Miyata jumbled up the order, allowing the likes of Verschoor and Bortoleto to trade in their tyres and catapult themselves up the net race order.
The top-three from the Feature race reflected on their race starts from their respective grid slots, and how they emerged from the first chicane unscathed.
Smoke and gravel went flying at the race start | Image Credit: Formula 2
Gabriel Bortoleto, who found himself beached in the gravel during qualifying, started the race dead last in twenty-second position, ended his weekend on a high, completing a stunning last-to-first victory. The Brazilian shared his recollections from the first chicane:
‘I don’t really remember to be honest. It was quite a crazy start you know, there were a lot of people going out at [turn] 1, smoke going out, gravel everywhere, so I was just trying to avoid the guys, I don’t even know how I overtook people there. I tried, obviously, to place my car in the best position. The only thing I remember about my start was to overtake the car on my left and the car in front of me which was a Trident, I believe it was Stanek. But all the rest, I really don’t remember, it was just a crazy situation going on ahead, and I was just avoiding cars and overtaking people.’
Eventual runner-up Zane Maloney began the race from the opposite end of the grid, claiming his first-ever pole position. He managed to hold the race lead throughout the first stage of the race, escaping the carnage which unfolded behind him. However, the safety car did not work in his favour, as he eventually lost out to those who pitted whilst the rest of the field was slowed. The Boy from Barbados reflected on his encounter with Aron at the race start during which he managed to defend his lead:
‘I had an alright start, Paul [Aron] had a really great start from P3 so we were side-by-side into turn 1, and for me it was quite simple, just trying to keep the lead on the inside, and then I just heard a car spinning and then I didn’t see Paul on my left-hand side anymore. After that I had a big gap and I could push forward, but it was obviously unfortunate for Paul and I saw that there was a lot of chaos behind.’
Richard Verschoor was another driver to claim an unlikely podium, stalling on the grid during the formation lap, and beginning both the sprint and feature races from nineteenth position. However, the Dutchman was another driver to make his pitstop under the safety car, promoting him to a position where he could fight for yet another podium. Verschoor observed the pandemonium at the first chicane from behind, meaning that he had to navigate his way through without being caught up in in the chaos himself:
‘I just saw a lot of smoke, basically, and a lot of people locking up into [turn] 1, and especially from the back, you know, you’re just trying to avoid cars that are suddenly braking, and in the end we managed, so that’s good.’
With a mere three rounds remaining of the 2024 Formula 2 season, every driver will be in the hunt for as many championship points as possible. The weekend in Monza proves how quickly the tables can turn, closing the points-gap at the front of the championship and raising the stakes to new heights.
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