Race 1: First victory of the year for Armstrong and DAMS

This will do the greatest good to the French DAMS team. By winning the first victory of the Jeddah meeting this Saturday, Marcus Armstrong (DAMS) offered himself his first success in Formula 2, at the same time as he unlocked the counter for his DAMS team this year, which had not won since the Silverstone round with Dan Ticktum in 2020. 

Starting second on the grid, the Kiwi got the better of poleman Liam Lawson (Hitech) at the first corner. After the intervention of the Safety Car during the first three laps, due to a collision between Guilherme Samaia (Charouz) and Marino Sato (Trident), the New Zealander managed his restart perfectly, maintaining a good lead throughout the race about a second and a half.

While he thought he was establishing himself as a good manager, everything had to be done again five loops from the end, when the track exit of Theo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix) led to the appearance of a new safety car. But despite constant pressure from his compatriot Liam Lawson in the last lap, Armstrong held on to win ahead of the Hitech Lawson-Vips ticket. 

MARCUS ARMSTRONG TAKES HIS MAIDEN WIN! 🏆

A valiant effort by the Kiwi who stormed into P1 in the opening action and never looked back 💪#SaudiArabianGP (I.e. #F2 @MarcusArmstrong pic.twitter.com/jaSzlh03c6

- Formula 2 (@ Formula2) December 4, 2021

Pursue the fault 

The disappointment, however, was great for Théo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix). Author of a superb race, which saw him climb to 6th position, the Frenchman was forced to retire after smashing his car into the wall at turn 22. The images were not shown, but it seems that the Habs have lost control of their car on supportive braking. The Habs will therefore have to start from behind in Race 2 (19:30 p.m.) this Saturday evening. 

LAP 14/20 ⚠️ SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED ⚠️

Theo Pourchaire is into the wall, it's a big hit!

The driver is OK 👍#SaudiArabianGP (I.e. #F2 pic.twitter.com/t7F0ddgiLR

- Formula 2 (@ Formula2) December 4, 2021

The Frenchman was not the only big loser of the race, since Guanyu-Zhou (UNI-Virtuosi), the dolphin ofOscar piastri in the championship, was caught in a collision with Christian Lundgaard (ART Grand Prix) on the third lap. The Chinese had to go through the pits to change his front wing and started in last position, far from the peloton and Oscar Piastri. He finished 17th. The Australian concluded his race 1 in 9th position, without the slightest point but with the assurance of starting on the front row in Race 2, behind Bent Viscaal (Trident).