Jak Crawford Secures Victory in Baku Feature Race, Reviving Title Hopes

In a thrilling display of racing, Jak Crawford from DAMS emerged victorious in the Baku feature race, reigniting his chances in the Formula 2 championship chase. This victory came after a challenging outing in Monza, where he struggled to score points. Following the race, Crawford shared insights about his aspirations and the challenges that lie ahead in the championship.

Unpredictable Conditions Challenge Drivers

The weekend was marked by unpredictable weather, which significantly influenced both the Formula 1 and Formula 2 sessions. The feature race was no exception. During the formation lap, drivers navigated a slick track under the watchful eye of the safety car, despite a confirmed standing start.

Joshua Dürksen, a driver for AIX Racing, commented on the challenging conditions during the post-race press conference. “It rained earlier in the day. Just an hour before the race, the track was still damp, so we were uncertain about the car’s balance and tire performance,” he stated. Dürksen noted the importance of the headwind at Turn 1, which helped prevent chaos in the braking zone.

Unlike the previous year, where an opening-corner collision led to five retirements, this time, all competitors successfully navigated the first corner without incident. Championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli had an outstanding start from the second position, overtaking Crawford before they reached Turn 1. However, Crawford quickly regained his position from Gabriele Minì on the following lap.

Early Race Developments

Luke Browning, unfortunately, had a poor start, dropping to eighth place amidst the chaos. F2 newcomer Martinius Stenshorne skillfully avoided Browning and made quick work of Alex Dunne, moving into fifth place by Turn 6 and overtaking Pepe Martí on the start-finish straight in the second lap.

Stenshorne’s promising debut, however, came to an abrupt end on lap five. When Martí attempted to pass him into Turn 1, Stenshorne went wide in an effort to defend, crashing into the barriers and bringing out the safety car. Martí was later penalized with a 10-second post-race penalty for his role in the incident.

The positioning of Stenshorne’s car required the safety car to lead all drivers through the pit lane. Initially, it was too early for mandatory pit stops, but by the end of lap six, drivers took the opportunity to change tires, dramatically altering the race’s dynamics. Fornaroli was the first to pit but found himself waiting for the pack to pass, which dropped him to fourth place behind Minì, Crawford, and Martí.

Mid-Race Action and Strategic Maneuvers

At the restart on lap eight, the top five drivers maintained their positions. Browning’s race took a turn for the worse when he collided with Roman Staněk at Turn 4, forcing him into the pits for a new front wing and tire change, leaving him a lap down.

On lap nine, Minì made a misstep at Turn 16, allowing Crawford to overtake. However, Minì quickly regained the position by slipping into Crawford’s slipstream and retaking the lead on the start-finish straight. The battle continued, with Crawford once again overtaking Minì in the same location on the following lap.

The fight for fourth intensified as Alex Dunne executed a bold maneuver into Turn 3, making contact with Fornaroli in the process. Dunne managed to hold onto fourth until lap 13 when Fornaroli collided with him on the start-finish straight, resulting in Dunne going off-track. Although Fornaroli lost only one position, he received a 10-second penalty due to the incident.

Dürksen emerged as a significant beneficiary from the ensuing chaos, climbing from 15th place to third by lap 17 after passing Martí. His pace continued to impress as he overtook Minì for second on the main straight on lap 19, with Minì losing valuable time and falling behind.

The Final Laps: A Battle for the Lead

Dürksen was relentless in his pursuit of Crawford, entering the start-finish straight just 0.7 seconds behind on the final laps. Despite his efforts, Crawford managed to defend his lead effectively, demonstrating skillful racing. The closing laps saw Dürksen within striking distance but unable to find a way past.

“I tried to pass him on the outside at Turn 1, but the grip wasn’t there, so I backed off to regroup for Turn 3,” Dürksen explained. “There are instances where drivers attempt outside overtakes and end up in the wall, and the grip was just too poor at that moment. I wanted to catch him again at Turn 3.”

Crawford’s ability to maintain his lead was impressive, and he ultimately crossed the finish line first, with a mere 0.216 seconds separating him from Dürksen—this marked the closest finish of the season.

Reflection and Future Aspirations

For Crawford, this win was not just a return to form but also a crucial step in his championship campaign. With this victory, he gained 18 points on Fornaroli, narrowing the gap to just 19 points. It was a welcome turnaround following a disappointing outing in Monza, where he finished 16th and 11th.

“Monza wasn’t due to my performance or the team’s efforts; it was purely reliability issues,” Crawford stated. “This weekend shows our capabilities, reminding me of our performances in Budapest and Silverstone. I’m confident we can replicate this success in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”

Crawford expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming break, emphasizing the importance of preparation. “I believe we perform well when we have a break to regroup and strategize, and I’m looking forward to working hard with the team so we can come back even stronger.”

Rising Stars and the Championship Battle

Dino Beganovic, who finished third after clinching his first F2 victory in the sprint race, reflected on the weekend’s success, stating, “This weekend has given me a boost for what’s next. My prior experience in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be beneficial, and I aim to build on what we achieved in Monza.”

Fornaroli, who crossed the line in third, was ultimately classified fifth after serving a penalty for the earlier collision. Martí finished sixth but was penalized post-race, dropping him to 11th, with Arvid Lindblad being elevated to sixth. The final points were rounded out by Rafael Villagómez, Richard Verschoor, Sebastián Montoya, and Ritomo Miyata. Dürksen also secured an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race, clocking a time of 1:56.798 on lap 11.

Browning’s struggles in the feature race positioned him third in the title race, trailing Fornaroli by 27 points. With 78 points still available in the upcoming races, the championship remains fiercely competitive. Drivers like Verschoor, Dunne, and Martí are still mathematically in contention for the title, while Lindblad’s chances have been significantly diminished.

As the season progresses, the anticipation builds for the next race, where drivers will look to capitalize on their strengths and rectify their weaknesses. The battle for the championship continues to be a thrilling spectacle, drawing fans and racing enthusiasts alike into the heart of Formula 2 competition.