Fornaroli Secures Victory in Formula 2 Sprint Race at Monza

In an exhilarating display of skill and strategy, Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli triumphed in the Formula 2 sprint race held at Monza, overcoming a mechanical setback during qualifying that had threatened his chances. His remarkable performance not only earned him the top spot on the podium but also showcased his impressive pace throughout the race. This thrilling event concluded with Joshua Dürksen achieving his first podium finish since the sprint race in Austria. In the aftermath of the race, both Fornaroli and Invicta team principal James Robinson shared their insights and reflections.

A Race of Challenges and Triumphs

Reflecting on his victory during the post-race press conference, Fornaroli expressed his satisfaction with the race. “It was a great race,” he noted. “I’m happy we demonstrated that we had really nice pace. Unfortunately, I encountered an electrical issue in qualifying that hindered my run, so I’m pleased we showcased that we can be quite competitive.”

Starting from reverse-grid pole position, Dino Beganovic had a strong launch, maintaining his lead initially. However, Sami Meguetounif, who started in second, lost his position to Fornaroli as they navigated the challenging Roggia chicane.

Dürksen, starting in fourth, faced a rocky beginning to his race. He was overtaken by Arvid Lindblad off the line and subsequently cut the Roggia chicane, allowing Ollie Goethe, another Red Bull junior driver, to slip past. Dürksen encountered more challenges during the opening lap, losing another position to Roman Staněk in the Parabolica but quickly reclaiming it on the main straight.

Early Race Incidents

On the second lap, the competition intensified as Alex Dunne and Kush Maini battled for the eighth position at Curva Grande. This tussle led to Maini spinning out after going wide, resulting in a safety car deployment. Following a review, stewards determined that Dunne had pushed Maini off the track, awarding Dunne a 10-second penalty and adding two penalty points to his record, bringing him closer to a potential race ban. Maini, unfortunately, had to retire from the race due to the incident.

The race resumed on lap five, where Fornaroli, seeking to capitalize on the slipstream from Beganovic, aimed to overtake at the first corner. However, he locked up, skidding straight off the track. Although he returned ahead, he quickly lost that position again.

Nevertheless, Fornaroli regained control and took the lead on lap eight as they approached the start-finish straight. Shortly thereafter, Lindblad, who had successfully maneuvered past Meguetounif for third place during the restart, moved to seize second position from Beganovic in the first corner.

“When I found myself in P1, I had Arvid right behind me for the entire race. He was always in DRS range,” Fornaroli reflected. “I had to drive flawlessly to maintain my lead, as any mistake would allow him to catch up.”

Managing Pressure

When asked if there was ever a moment he felt secure against Lindblad’s pursuit, Fornaroli admitted, “Only on the final lap when I noticed he lost DRS.”

Robinson, the team principal, had a slightly different perspective on the race. He noted, “Leo made a significant error while attempting to pass Beganovic, resulting in a notable flat spot on his front right tire.” However, he praised Fornaroli’s ability to manage the situation effectively. “He handled it remarkably well. This is becoming typical of him now; he managed the gap brilliantly.”

Robinson highlighted Fornaroli’s exceptional performance, particularly out of Turn 11 and the Parabolica, where he consistently pulled a two to three-tenths advantage on Lindblad each lap, which was crucial for maintaining his lead.

Emergence of a Three-Way Battle

While the leading trio fought for dominance, another exciting battle unfolded behind them. On lap six, Dunne executed an overtaking maneuver on Staněk at Curva Grande, having unsettled him with a bold lunge into the first chicane. Meanwhile, Dürksen passed Meguetounif at the first chicane on lap eight, demonstrating his determination to climb the standings.

However, Dunne’s attempt to repeat his earlier success with Staněk on the next lap resulted in chaos, as Meguetounif misjudged the first chicane and collided with Dunne, forcing both drivers into the gravel. Following their recovery, Dunne was left in 17th place while Meguetounif dropped to 21st, ultimately retiring due to damage.

The stewards attributed blame to Meguetounif for the incident, imposing a five-second penalty that would convert into a three-place grid drop for the next race.

Drama Continues

The excitement didn’t end there. On lap 14, Goethe, who was in pursuit of his first F2 podium, attempted an ambitious overtaking maneuver around the outside at Turn 1. Unfortunately, he couldn’t maintain his position ahead of the chicane, leading to a spin as he tried to rejoin the track, ultimately dropping him to 16th place.

In close quarters behind, Pepe Martí and Gabriele Minì were in a fierce contest for the final points-paying position, both making significant gains from their starting positions. However, as they reached the first corner, Minì locked up, taking the escape road while returning to the circuit in seventh place. Martí, aiming to navigate the chicane as usual, went wide into the gravel, losing valuable ground and falling behind Rafael Villagómez and Luke Browning.

Trident Racing faced a particularly tough day on lap 17 when smoke began to billow from Max Esterson’s car. He managed to pull off the circuit, averting a full safety car situation. Goethe seized this opportunity to pit for supersoft tires, emerging just before a virtual safety car was called.

When the virtual safety car concluded on lap 19, Verschoor capitalized on his experience to execute a strong restart, overtaking Staněk for fifth as they approached Roggia.

Lindblad’s Late Push

As the race progressed, Lindblad began to demonstrate impressive pace, recording the fastest lap of 1:33.807 on lap 15 while chasing Fornaroli. However, his push for victory came undone when he slightly misjudged the exit of the Ascari Chicane, losing DRS and compromising his performance further.

“In the beginning, when I reached second place, I didn’t feel I had the pace to take the lead and pull away. My strategy was to wait and build a tire delta for the end,” Lindblad recounted. “But we seemed to start degrading at the same time, so when I wanted to push for the lead, I struggled with the tires and couldn’t find the pace.”

Ultimately, Fornaroli crossed the finish line, securing victory with a margin of 1.662 seconds ahead of Lindblad. Although Beganovic initially finished in third, a subsequent five-second penalty for a virtual safety car infringement demoted him to sixth, allowing Dürksen to step onto the podium.

This victory, combined with Verschoor’s strong fourth-place finish and Crawford’s lack of points, propelled Fornaroli to a commanding 24-point lead in the championship standings, nearly equivalent to a full feature race victory. Nevertheless, with seven races remaining in the season, the championship battle remains wide open.

Looking Ahead

As Fornaroli prepares for the final rounds of the championship, he emphasized the importance of maintaining focus. “I approach the upcoming races as I would any weekend. A comfortable lead doesn’t mean I can afford to relax. As we learned yesterday, anything can happen. The competition is incredibly fierce, and I must be at my best to perform.”

He also acknowledged that his experience from the previous season, which culminated in an F3 title win at Monza, has equipped him to handle high-pressure situations more effectively. “The experience from last year certainly helped me stay composed during intense moments,” he reflected.

In the closing stages of the race, although Beganovic’s penalty dropped him to sixth, Staněk, Minì, and Browning secured points, while Goethe managed to set the fastest lap of 1:33.658 on the final lap, albeit finishing in 18th place. Consequently, Lindblad retained the additional point for the fastest lap.

The Monza sprint race showcased not only the thrill of competition but also the resilience and skill of the drivers, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the Formula 2 season. As the championship heads into its final phases, fans can expect more dramatic races, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments on the track.