While we focus on Formula 1 on this site, we have branched out into occasional Indycar and Nascar coverage, as well as WEC and sportcars, so only fair to give some space for F2 and F3 which we start with this Bahrain weekend review.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 both ran on the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, many debutants, rookies and changes ahead of the new season in both F1 feeder categories. Here is a summary of the action at Sakhir this past weekend.
Bahrain F2 Sprint Race: Last-minute choice Verschoor delivers for Trident
Richard Verschoor claimed Trident’s first Formula 2 win in an entertaining opening race of the season at Sakhir, launching into the lead at lights out and cruising to victory ahead of pre-season title favourites Jehan Daruvala and Liam Lawson.
Verschoor was the last driver to be announced ahead of the new season but has become the first victor, with the Dutchman clinching a second win at this level. Overtaking the slow-starting Felipe Drugovich off-the-line, the Trident driver’s win rarely looked in doubt.
Jehan Daruvala came the closest to challenging Verschoor, but the PREMA Racing driver lost time while battling with Ralph Boschung for third, with the Campos Racing driver putting up a valiant defence, before dropping off the podium in the final laps.
Lawson, driving for Carlin, was the one to nick the final place on the podium from Boschung, leaving the Swiss racer to settle for fourth ahead of reverse polesitter Drugovich.
Carlin’s Logan Sargeant and Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips finished sixth and seventh after an enthralling battle, with Ayumu Iwasa clinching the final points’ position after a phenomenal debut drive from last to eighth.
Bahrain F2 Feature Race: Pouchaire triumphs amid the chaos
ART Grand Prix’s Théo Pourchaire won a chaotic first Feature Race of the season in Sakhir, beating Carlin’s Liam Lawson – who started from sixth – and Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips, who had to recover from 12th after a slow pitstop.
Starting from third, Jüri Vips had initially stormed ahead of Pourchaire and polesitter Jack Doohan when the lights went out, as those around him struggled to switch on the hard Pirelli tyres.
The Estonian’s slow stop briefly gifted P1 back to Doohan, but the Virtuosi racer got caught in a scuffle with Pourchaire on his way out of the pits and had to go back in for a new front wing.
Pourchaire evaded damage and claimed first from the Australian, with Lawson in tow. Returning 12th, Vips had the bit between his teeth and made light work of scything through the field to P3, taking the final podium spot ahead of Campos Racing’s Ralph Boschung.
After starting from 13th, Hitech’s Marcus Armstrong made the alternate strategy work to break into the top five, ahead of MP Motorsport’s Felipe Drugovich and Carlin’s Logan Sargeant. DAMS’ Roy Nissany and Van Amersfoort Racing’s Jake Hughes steered clear of the trouble to take eighth and ninth, respectively.
Doohan recovered from his earlier disappointment to take the final points’ position, climbing back up to 10th from last place.
Bahrain F3 Sprint Race: Hadjar wins after Bearman penalty
Hitech Grand Prix’s Isack Hadjar took his maiden victory in Formula 3 after PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman was handed a post-race penalty for violating track limits.
Bearman led the majority of the race after moving past reverse grid pole-sitter Zak O’Sullivan in the early stages and took the chequered flag in first place. However, the Stewards handed the British driver a five-second time penalty moments after he took the chequered flag, moving him back to second, with Hadjar promoted up to the top spot.
The fight for the podium positions was fierce, but the final spot ultimately went to MP Motorsport’s Alexander Smolyar following a battle that lasted several laps between multiple drivers.
Bahrain F3 Feature Race: Martins holds off hard-charging Leclerc
ART Grand Prix driver Victor Martins took the glory in the opening Feature Race of the 2022 FIA Formula 3 season in Sakhir, beating PREMA Racing’s Arthur Leclerc to victory.
Martins stayed patient throughout the opening stages of the race after starting from third on the grid, keeping close to the rear of rookie pole-sitter Franco Colapinto, who led a majority of the race. However, on lap 15, the more experienced Martins made his move for the lead.
Leclerc produced another strong recovery drive from 13th on the grid, advancing all the way up to second place by the chequered flag.
Van Amersfoort Racing’s Colapinto crossed the line in third place, but was issued a five-second time penalty for violating track limits, which caused him to drop back to fifth while Gregoire Saucy inherited the final spot on the podium.
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