Franco Colapinto's Last-Lap Magic Steals Victory in Thrilling Imola Sprint Race

In one of the most dramatic finishes of the season, MP Motorsport's Franco Colapinto pulled off a breathtaking last-lap overtake to seize his maiden Formula 2 victory in the Imola Sprint Race. Rising from an initial setback at the start, where he fell to third, the Williams Driver Academy star showcased poise and precision to reclaim his positions.

Colapinto's journey to victory was anything but straightforward. Despite starting in second, he found himself trailing in third place after a sluggish start. Nevertheless, Colapinto demonstrated his racing acumen by overtaking Hitech Pulse-Eight's Amaury Cordeel on Lap 7, setting his sights on Estonian driver Paul Aron, who had seized the early lead.

Chaos on the Opening Lap

The race's drama started early when a five-car collision involving drivers Isack Hadjar, Roman Stanek, Dennis Hauger, Enzo Fittipaldi, and Joshua Duerksen halted proceedings. Safety Car deployment was necessary, but thankfully, all drivers emerged unscathed, and the track was soon cleared for a restart.

Aron capitalized on the break, executing a flawless start to grab the lead from both Colapinto and pole-sitter Cordeel. Despite his early prowess, Aron couldn't fend off Colapinto's relentless pursuit and was eventually overtaken in spectacular fashion on the final lap.

The Final Moments

Colapinto strategically bided his time, shadowing Aron throughout the race. The finale saw Colapinto execute an audacious move around the outside of Tamburello, earning him a well-deserved victory and sending shockwaves through the paddock.

But the action didn’t end there. Championship leader Zane Maloney, driving for Rodin Motorsport, also made a late-stage move, clinching third place from Cordeel and securing yet another podium finish for his campaign.

Midfield Battle and Points Finishers

Further down the order, a fierce battle for midfield supremacy unfolded. PREMA Racing's Oliver Bearman held off a spirited challenge from Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto to secure fifth. AIX Racing's Taylor Barnard celebrated a milestone by scoring his first-ever F2 points with a seventh-place finish, while Trident's Richard Verschoor capped off a points-earning drive in eighth.

Looking Forward

Next on the agenda is the much-anticipated Feature Race on Sunday, where Bortoleto will start from pole position with Bearman alongside him on the front row. The race is set to ignite at 10:00 local time, promising another enthralling chapter in this F2 season.

For more detailed insights and a complete breakdown of the FIA Formula 2 Imola Sprint Race, make sure to visit the official F2 website.