Marti wins sprint race as Bortoleto extends points lead ahead of finale

Gabriel Bortoleto took a crucial advantage in his championship challenge by finishing second to sprint race winner Pepe Marti at Yas Marina.

Aron took the final place on the podium in third but is now mathematically eliminated from championship contention. Isack Hadjar finished seventh but gained

Before the race, Prema announced Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli would not take part on doctor’s advice after feeling unwell. Reverse-grid pole winner Amaury Cordeel therefore headed a 21-car field. However he failed to keep his advantage at the start, losing the lead to Pepe Marti and second place to Kush Maini, who gained six places on the opening lap.

In the pack, championship contender Hadjar suffered minor front wing damage from contact between Maini and Ritomo Miyata but was able to continue without needing to pit for repairs. His closest rival, Bortoleto, made quick progress, coming up to third place behind Invicta team mate Maini as Marti continued to lead.

Bortoleto gained second from his team mate as Maini then fell behind Cordeel. Aron gained more vital points for his own championship challenge by passing Maini, who continued to fall down the order.

Marti did not allow Bortoleto to catch up to him, maintaining his lead out front. Aron kept with his Hitech team mate and eventually moved past him out of turn nine on lap 17 to gain the final podium position.

Joshua Duerksen then challenged Cordeel for fourth, but the pair clashed into turn six after Cordeel locked up under braking, hitting the left-rear of the AIX driver. Cordeel was handed a 10-second penalty for causing the collision.

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Marti continued to lead out front with Bortoleto never getting within two seconds of the Campos driver. He completed the 23rd and final lap to win the sprint race, taking his first victory in Formula 2 and becoming the 18th different race winner of the season. Bortoleto was just over two seconds behind in second place, with Aron taking third 11 seconds behind Bortoleto.

Oliver Bearman finished fourth but fell behind Dino Beganovic after being hit with a five second penalty for exceeding track limits too many times and falling to fifth. Hadjar was sixth, with Luke Browning and Richard Verschoor promoted into the final points positions after Miyata and Cordeel were both demoted by their penalties.

Bortoleto therefore heads into the final round of the championship with a five-and-a-half point advantage over Hadjar in the championship. Aron, now 27.5 points back, has been eliminated from contention.

Formula 2 Abu Dhabi race one results

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Formula 2

• “Formula 2 The Glory Years, 1967-84” reviewed
• Bortoleto clinches F2 title as Hadjar stalls and Duerksen wins finale
• Aron hit with double penalty for team’s illegal DRS modification, Hadjar gains a point
• Martins beats title rivals Bortoleto, Aron and Hadjar to Yas Marina pole
• Bortoleto’s lead down to half a point as penalty hands win to Aron in Losail