Formula 2 Monaco: De Vries takes the win; difficult race for Latifi
CONTACT WITH COMPETITORS AND DRIVE-THROUGH PENALTY FOR LATIFI IN RACE 1
It was set to be a difficult race for championship leader Latifi having to start from eight on the grid of the tight Monaco circuit.
Troubles for front row starter Callum Ilott after the formation lap saw the start aborted. Unfortunately for Ilott, he would later retire from the pits. On the second attempt, pole sitter Nyck De Vries, sitting by himself on the front row, took advantage of the situation to drive away and take the lead of the race.
Things looked good for De Vries as championship rival Nicolas Latifi made an overtaking move on Shumacher at the hight hairpin and ended up damaging his from wing which forced Latifi into the pits to fit a new front wing than rejoined the race in 15th.
Then the race was stopped as Mick Schumacher tried a pass at La Rascasse corner to get by Tatiana Calderon. With not enough room, contact was made that sent Calderon into a spin. Right behind, Louis Delétraz had nowhere to go as the track was blocked, causing a red flag.
De Vries saw his comfortable 6 second lead vanished. On the restart, De Vries retook command of the race as Nicolas Latifi was trying to gain positions to at least score a couple of precious championship points, made a passing attempt on Sean Gelael for 10th at La Rascasse. The move was a bit too early and Latifi hit the rear of the PREMA car. Gelael ended up hitting the barrier and had to pit for a new nose. Latifi was handed a drive-through penalty for causing the accident.
Later, with 5 laps to go, the safety car came out and forced De Vries to do it all over again.
At the checkered flag, the victory went to Nyck De Vries(ART Grand Prix) over Luca Ghiotto(UNI-Virtuosi Racing) and Nubuharu Matsushita(Carlin). Nicolas Latifi ended up in 13th place.
Race 2 will take place tomorrow late afternoon local time. With the reversed starting grid of the top eight finisher, the front row will be occupied by Carin driver Louis Delétraz and Artem Markelov(MP Motorsport) next to him.
Image: Formula 2 championship
