Victor Martins would stretch his lead far enough to overcome a five second penalty in winning the F2 race at Silverstone.
Marins began on the pole with Kush Maini along side him on the front row. Maini was shuffled back to sixth by the fifth lap of the race. Points leader and Sprint winner Frederik Vesti began the race from the 10th spot but set his sights on going forward.
Amurary Cordeel brought out a safety car on lap 6 after spinning. Everyone on soft tires would pit while those on the hard hard tire would have to stay out.
Isack Hadjar and Arthur LeClerc would restart ahead of Martins. Iwasa, would be the next of those who pitted, restarted seventh. On the restart Dennis Hauger would shove Vesti into the back of Roman Stanek. While Vesti and Hauger would be able to get going, Stanek’s day was done. Unfortunately for his left suspension would fail leaving the pits ending his day.
Oliver Bearman would have issues on the restart running wide and dropping from eighth to 12th. Ralph Boschung and Maini would get together and bring out yet another safety car.
Martins would be given a five second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage although he would be the driver to lead the field back to green on lap.
Faced with the prospects of a penalty Martins restarted trying to put five second between him and whoever finished second. After Zane Maloney fended up LeClerc that allowed Theo Pourchaire to catch up and assume third. Jack Doohan would then get around LeClerc for fourth as Martins stretched his lead to over five seconds ahead of Maloney.
Martins would extend his lead to over seven seconds, two after the penalty, to win his first F2 race. Maloney and Pourchaire would round out the podium. following the race Pourchaire is now within six points of Vesti for the points lead.
Silverstone F2 Results
July 9, 2023
