Qatar – Main Race: Aron wins, Hadjar takes advantage of the penalty to come back to Bortoleto

The day after a Sprint Race during which he tried to shift his strategy to try to find some rhythm, Isack Hadjar (Campos) certainly would not have imagined finishing the weekend on the podium. Even less by taking points from Gabriel Bortoleto.

Ninth on the grid, the Tricolore had a tricky start to the race, stuck in the pack and trying to avoid contact. Having dropped back to 10th for a time, the protégé of Red Bull received a stroke of luck when the collision between Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Prema) in the pit lane brought out the Safety Car.

Having decided to stay on track while the first drivers stopped, Isack Hadjar was able to make his stop under the Safety Car and thus gain positions. When he left the pit lane, he found himself provisionally 3rd while the race and championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto (Invicta Racing) was subject to a penalty, later confirmed, for having crossed the pit lane line after he had already entered it.

Bortoleto penalized 5 seconds 👀

The Brazilian is virtually the leader of the race, Isack Hadjar virtually 3rd... a suspenseful end to the race in #F2 ! 🇶🇦 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/FkzFiR9vip

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) December 1, 2024

The Brazilian, penalized by 5 seconds, Isack Hadjar then gave his all to stay in this window in order to gain a position at the end of the race. Despite the pressure from Oliver Goethe (MP Motorsport), the Parisian held on and thus gained a place, moving up to 2nd while Gabriel Bortoleto fell back to 3rd place. In front, Paul Aron (Hitech GP) recovered the victory in this Main Race, his first this year.

In the championship, Isack Hadjar took back 3 points from Gabriel Bortoleto to return to half a point before the final the following weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) was forced to retire after contact with Max Esterson (Trident) halfway through the race.

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