Talking points from Sochi

With the dust settled at the end of another enthralling FIA Formula 2 race weekend, at Sochi in Russia, we take a look at five talking points from the track.

Consistency key for Champion De Vries

It had been coming, hadn’t it? In Sochi, Nyck de Vries wrapped up the Formula 2 title in the type of style we’ve grown accustomed to. The Dutchman was absolutely dominant on the day, as he has been for much of the season.

With two races to go, the ART Grand Prix man already has one more win than he achieved last season, although, the real difference lay in his remarkable consistency. He has secured 13 podiums, more than one a round, and only finished outside of the points once, with zero retirements. He said as much himself in his title winning press conference, admitting: “Last year we were a little too focused on winning, specifically, and not gathering points.”

It was fitting that he sealed the Championship with a victory. As he rose from his car, the helmet came off – he would not be hiding his elation behind a visor on this occasion. The beaming, emotional smile and the bellowing screams of joy spoke a thousand words. He flew from the top of his No. 4 car and into the crowd of ART team members all waiting to congratulate him. It was a truly heart-warming moment.

When the season does come to a close, the Dutchman will most definitely be missed in the Formula 2 paddock.

All to play for

The Drivers’ title may be wrapped up, but the Teams’ Championship is still incredibly close, with just 53 Points separating the two at the top. Currently, DAMS and UNI-Virtuosi occupy those spots. The pair have been the pick of the field for much of the season, with four talented drivers and a strong overall package.

Although neither matched ART Grand Prix’s haul of 45 points this weekend, they still collected very impressive tallies of 42 points (DAMS) and 35 points (UNI-Virtuosi), to retain their positions in first and second.

They’re also the only teams with all four drivers inside of the top seven, while three of them reside in the top five.

DAMS are in the driving seat as it stands, but Luca Ghiotto’s win will have handed UNI-Virtuosi the confidence they need going into the season finale.

Lively Luca

Moving nicely onto Ghiotto, who sealed the Sprint Race victory thanks to a resolute defensive performance. It was the Italian’s third win of the season and first since Silverstone. It came at the perfect time, too. The Championship title may be in the hands of De Vries, but second place is still very much up for grabs.

Ghiotto was thrust into the lead following a collision between Jack Aitken, Nobuharu Matsushita and Nikita Mazepin at the start of the race, but he was hounded and harried by newly crown champion De Vries for the remainder of the 15 laps.

It required all of his defensive resolve to keep F2’s top man off the top step for a second time in Sochi, but he pulled it off. Following that performance, the UNI-Virtuosi ace is just 10 points behind Latifi in the standings, so the spot is well within reach, if he can outscore his rival by enough points in the final round.

Is Louis’ luck changing?

Louis Delétraz seems somewhat an enigma. He’s a racer with all of the right ingredients. The pace, the power, the aggression, and then that cheeky Swiss smile which portrays his likeable personality. Yet, he seems indelibly linked with bad luck. That’s not an excuse, that’s fact. And, he’d be much higher in the standings had the rub of the green swung his way on more occasions in 2019. Go back over the season and you’ll see.

It is largely for that reason that the wait for a Feature Race podium, and race win, went on. On Saturday, the first of those two changed. The feat was achieved after a late battle with the experienced Ghiotto. The Italian, starting on the alternate strategy, had initially passed Delétraz with the help of his fresher tyres, but with some way still to go, they waned and the Carlin man seized his chance. He took a risk and skipped around him on the final turn, of the final lap, making it stick not far from the chequered flag.

Hopefully, this is just the start of the Swiss racer’s luck changing.

We’ll be back before you know it

Sadly, we now head into a break from racing, with a large gap between Sochi and Yas Marina at the end of November. Not to worry though, there will be lots going on. Jack Aitken has already teased that he will be making some appearances on F1 weekends and you’d expect others to attend at times too.

There will also be plenty of exclusive content on our official website, from in-depth interviews and breaking news stories to fun features that will ensure you continue to get your F2 fix.

Then, before you know it, we’ll be back racing for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

See you there!