Nobuharu Matsushita regains victory in Austria

On an overheated track in Austria, there was a question of tire management in the main FIA race F2, and if Nyck de Vries (ART Grand Prix) had achieved the best first stint, it was Nobuharu Matsushita (Pug) who ultimately emerges victorious from this initial confrontation.

Despite a less successful start, pole sitter Nyck de Vries retained first place at the start against Anthoine Hubert (Arden). Complicated first laps for the Frenchman who lost several positions against Nobuharu Matsushita (Carlin), Guanyu-Zhou and Luca Ghiotto (Uni-Virtuosi).

For his part, de Vries seems to have the situation in hand and also takes advantage of the more distant position of Nicholas latifi (DAMS) to hope to widen the gap in the championship.

Especially since the Canadian spun on the 6th lap, hit by his teammate Sergio Sette Camara on the 3rd lap. The Brazilian will be penalized 5″ on his racing time for this action.

De Vries, Matsushita, Zhou, Hubert finally returned to the pits at the end of the 6th lap and Zhou lost a position to Hubert in the process. Ghiotto waits for a lap to observe his stop in turn. The Italian managed to restart in front of Hubert and Zhou, in provisional third position.

Matsushita's rush

In the lead, the new leaders Sean Gelael (Prema) and Nikita mazepin (ART Grand Prix) continued their effort, before the Russian took advantage of a small deviation from the Indonesian to get closer and take the advantage shortly after halfway.

Among the drivers who have already pitted, Nyck de Vries moves up to second place, 7″ behind Mazepin. The Dutchman, however, seems to be in trouble with his tires, since Matsushita comes back like a rocket.

The Japanese makes the junction on lap 34 for what is believed to be a five-lap sprint, which ultimately ends up short between the two drivers, as the Nippon attacks and passes the first corner of the next loop. De Vries cannot then counter Ghiotto, who overtakes the ART Grand Prix rider in the process.

Matsushita won ahead of Ghiotto and De Vries, who certainly couldn't resist Sergio Sette Camara, but the Brazilian's penalty prevented him from being able to formalize his third place obtained on the track.

Anthoine Hubert takes fourth place ahead of Sette Camara, Zhou, Louis Delétraz (Carlin), Jordan King (MP Motorsport), who will start from pole tomorrow, Nicholas Latifi and Jack Aitken (Campos).

Giuliano Alesi (Trident) finished the event in 13th place, while Mick Schumacher (Prema), who was unable to leave the grid before the formation lap after steering wheel problems, finished 19th.