F2 Silverstone: Vesti wins in an action packed Sprint race at Silverstone

A sensational wet race at Silverstone sees Vesti extend his Championship lead over Pourchaire. The British summer weather brought carnage throughout the field with battles ongoing through the entire length of the race.

Frederik Vesti on the top step of the podium at Silverstone for the F2 Sprint race

As the Top 10 from qualifying are reversed on a Saturday sprint race, it meant that Championship leader Frederik Vesti lined up on the reverse grid pole, due to his problems at the end of yesterday's Qualifying session. Vesti had Hadjar starting alongside him and Theo Pourchaire in his ART was starting third alongside Fittapaldi who rounded out the second row of the grid. 

As the British Summer Brought the typical summer weather all drivers started on Wet tyres. The race began with a rolling start due to wet track conditions, Vesti made a clean getaway from pole position. However, chaos ensued behind him as a collision between Benavides and Novalak sent Benavides spinning into the barriers. The incident prompted the deployment of the Safety Car. Before that, Ollie Bearman made his way into fourth after overtaking Fittapaldi with a sensational move through Maggots and Becketts.

Vesti took advantage of the safety car restart and accelerated away from the rest of the field. Bearman wasted no time at all and swiftly overtook Pourchaire to snatch third place. Then, later in the lap with a brilliant switchback, Bearman made his way past Hadjar at Stowe to claim second.

Bearman's fortunes turned though as he made a mistake, allowing Hadjar to regain second place after Bearman spun coming through Vale. Pourchaire, who had been struggling in the wet conditions, executed an exceptional switchback move through Club Corner, retaking third place from Bearman. Meanwhile, Doohan managed to snatch fifth place from Fittapaldi. The battle allowed tomorrow’s Pole sitter Martins to catch up to the Brazilian, with Martins pressuring Fittapaldi throughout the lap. However, Fittapaldi was able to stay ahead.

After struggling in the early stages of the race Pourchaire seemed to come to life in the later phase of the race and made a move on Hadjar securing him second place. Meanwhile, in front Vesti maintained a comfortable lead of six seconds over the Frenchman.

Bearman, after his remarkable start to the race, seemed to struggle during the latter stages of the race. He began to be pressured by Doohan, who attempted an overtake on the outside of Village but was unable to pass the determined Brit. The intense battle between the two drivers persisted, with Bearman forcing Doohan off the track during an attempted overtake on the outside of Stowe. Whilst battling, Bearman and Doohan closed the gap to Hadjar in third place, and Bearman executed a ballsy dummy heading into Copse, overtaking Hadjar to claim third position. 

Doohan, not willing to let go of this battle for third, made his way swiftly past Hadjar and back onto the back of Bearman after the Prema driver made another mistake on the exit of Beckitts. Bearman's race took a disappointing turn as he ran off the track at Club Corner, allowing Doohan to take advantage and make his way into third place. 

Doohan waving to Bearman as he passes him after a long battle

Meanwhile, at the front Vesti crossed the finish line to claim victory and extend his championship lead. Pourchaire finished second and after a hard-fought battle with Bearman, Doohan claimed the final step on the podium. Fittipaldi finished fourth, Hadjar fifth with Bearman ending up sixth. Martins ended the race P7 ahead of Arthur Leclerc who earnt himself the final point in eighth.