Jehan Daruvala finishes third in Saudi Arabia round in Formula 2 (Jehan Daruvala Twitter)
India’s Jehan Daruvala finished third in his 16th Formula 2 Sprint race at the Saudi Arabian round
India’s Jehan Daruvala raced to his 16th Formula 2 podium with a hard-fought third-place finish in the Sprint race of the championship’s Saudi Arabian round.
The 24-year-old MP Motorsport driver started fifth and was hustling eventual winner Ayumu Iwasa for the win but dropped to third just three laps from the end after making a daring bid for the lead that very nearly earned him his first win of the season.
Still, he crossed the line just over a second behind Iwasa and less than half a second behind runner-up Victor Martins to score his second successive podium around the barrier-lined, high-speed sweeps of the Red Sea track.
“To be honest, there are a bunch of mixed emotions,” said Jehan after the race on Saturday.
ALSO READ| Lewis Hamilton Struggles to ‘Feel Connected’ With His Mercedes Ahead of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
“I would definitely say I was disappointed I didn’t win because the car was very good and I had a lot of pace today but also not disappointed because I took a lot of risks.
“I have no regrets. I tried to win the race and, in the end, it didn’t pay off.”
Jehan made a lightning start off the line but was boxed in by the Campos cars of Ralph Boschung and compatriot Kush Maini.
A second-lap safety car that bunched the field up gave him a shot at passing Maini and Jehan duly seized the opportunity to muscle his way past his fellow Indian and set off in pursuit of Red Bull-backed racer Jak Crawford.
Jehan despatched Crawford on Lap 7 just seconds before a collision between Theo Pourchaire and Oliver Bearman triggered a second safety car period.
ALSO READ| Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Red Bull’s Sergio Perez Takes Pole in Jeddah
Jehan was hot on second-placed Boschung’s heels as the race got underway. The Swiss racer was powerless to resist the MP Motorsport racer’s charge as he swept around the outside of Turn 1 to take second.
He then battled Iwasa, while also keeping the rapid Martins at bay, before ultimately having to concede after his turn 1 gamble for a fifth F2 win failed to pay off.
The podium was Jehan’s first of the season. Set to move up one spot on the grid to fourth after a penalty for Theo Pourchaire, he has a good chance of completing a podium sweep.
Jehan, however, is eyeing victory.
“All in all, I’m happy,” he said.
“I think I can even fight for the win tomorrow in the Feature Race.”
Read all the Latest Sports News here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
