Dino Beganovic Triumphs in Baku: A Deep Dive into His Formula 2 Victory

Dino Beganovic made headlines this past Saturday by clinching his inaugural victory in the Formula 2 series during the sprint race in Baku. This remarkable achievement saw him finishing ahead of his Hitech teammate, Luke Browning, and Alex Dunne, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. Following the race, Beganovic shared insights about his strategies during the post-race press conference, shedding light on the tactics that led to his success.

A Chaotic Sprint Race

The sprint race was anything but predictable, characterized by a series of incidents that unfolded after a tumultuous qualifying session the previous day. Rafael Villagómez started in pole position, with Dino Beganovic right beside him in second place. From the very beginning, Beganovic showcased his driving prowess by seizing the lead and maintaining it throughout the race, ultimately crossing the finish line first.

Beganovic attributed a significant part of his victory to his restart strategy. He waited until the last possible moment to accelerate after the race’s two safety car periods. "You have the very long straight and the proper last corner is T16," Beganovic explained. "To make a surprise move there, giving the guy behind you a tow is very optimistic, so in the end, it’s statistics. I did what has worked before—discussing with the team and getting some advice from the guys in the F1 paddock, from Ferrari."

A Race Full of Incidents

Villagómez’s race took a turn for the worse right from the start. After a sluggish launch, he found himself overtaken by the rest of the field. His misfortune continued when he collided with Martinius Stenshorne and Pepe Martí at the first corner, leading to his retirement from the race and the deployment of the safety car. While Villagómez and Martí were forced to retire, Stenshorne managed to continue racing.

The chaos didn’t stop there. At Turn 2, Oliver Goethe attempted an aggressive move to overtake John Bennett while Roman Staněk was on Bennett’s outside. The tight confines of the track left no room for error, resulting in Goethe crashing into the wall, ending his race prematurely.

Just behind this incident, Laurens van Hoepen lost control and collided with Ritomo Miyata, who in turn hit Arvid Lindblad, forcing the Campos Racing driver to retire as well. Despite the initial chaos, the stewards decided not to take action against the first two incidents but did impose a 10-second penalty on van Hoepen for causing the collision.

The Restart Strategy

The race resumed on lap five, with Beganovic employing his well-thought-out strategy once again. He waited until just before the start-finish line to accelerate, a tactic that proved effective as he quickly established a lead of three-quarters of a second over Sebastián Montoya in second place.

Stenshorne, who was in third, made a valiant attempt to keep pace with Montoya and executed a stunning overtake at Turn 3 on lap seven, temporarily taking second place. However, his race ended abruptly on lap eight due to a technical failure, allowing Montoya to reclaim his position in second place and promoting Browning to third.

This was a significant setback for Stenshorne, who had already made a strong impression during his Formula 2 debut by qualifying seventh, which was the best result for his team that season.

Weather Implications and Tactical Adjustments

As the race progressed, rain began to fall lightly on the track, creating a slippery surface. Despite the weather conditions, none of the drivers opted to switch to wet tires, showing their confidence in the current setup.

Beganovic once again executed his restart strategy flawlessly, maintaining his lead over Montoya. Meanwhile, Alex Dunne, who was in fourth, made a bold move on Browning to take third place at Turn 3. However, a misstep at Turn 1 on lap 15 caused Dunne to lock up his tires, resulting in a flat-spot and forcing him wide into the run-off area. He quickly rejoined but lost his position to Browning.

In the following laps, Gabriele Minì managed to pass the struggling Dunne for fourth place. Yet, Dunne showed resilience and reclaimed the position on lap 18 at Turn 3. As the race unfolded, Browning also overtook Montoya for second place, taking advantage of the latter’s struggles.

Mechanical Failures and Strategic Gains

As the competition heated up, Montoya faced his own set of troubles, suffering a mechanical failure that forced him to drop out of the points-scoring positions. This allowed Dunne to move up into third place, a remarkable achievement considering his earlier setbacks.

Dino Beganovic maintained a steady pace throughout the final laps, building substantial gaps after each safety car period and ultimately finishing the race with a comfortable lead. He crossed the finish line 7.309 seconds ahead of Dunne, reinforcing his status as a formidable competitor in Formula 2. This victory marked a notable moment in motorsport history, as it was the first win for a Swedish driver in the second-tier series since Marcus Ericsson’s victory at the Nürburgring in 2013.

Post-Race Reflections

In the post-race press conference, Beganovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "It was all very much under control at all times after lap one. Then we just settled into our pace, tried to manage the tires a bit, and be ready for a safety car because you never know here in Baku."

Browning finished just over six seconds behind Beganovic, completing the Hitech team’s first 1-2 finish since 2020. Dunne’s strong performance also deserves recognition, as he managed to secure third place despite experiencing significant tire vibrations towards the end of the race.

As the race concluded, title contenders Jak Crawford, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Richard Verschoor all made their way past Minì in the final laps, finishing in fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively. Meanwhile, Victor Martins secured the last point for ART Grand Prix, rounding out a thrilling event in Baku.

Conclusion

Dino Beganovic’s victory in Baku is a testament to his skill, strategic thinking, and the collaborative efforts of his team. The race showcased the unpredictability of Formula 2, with its mix of excitement and challenges. As the series continues, all eyes will be on Beganovic and his competitors as they navigate the twists and turns of the championship. This race not only marked a personal achievement for Beganovic but also added another page to the rich history of motorsport, particularly for Swedish drivers in the competitive landscape of Formula 2.