Lungaard wins feature race, Schumacher keeps championship lead

F1 Grand Prix, GP Tuscany Ferrari 1000, Autodromo Internazionale di Mugello

Renault junior driver Christian Lungaard claimed his second win in the 2020 FIA F2 season, beating Louis Deletraz. Red Bull protégé Juri Vips finished on the F2 podium for the first time.

Starting from the reverse pole position, Artem Markelov lost the lead into Turn 1 when Christian Lungaard flew from third on the grid to the top of the field. At the back, Dan Ticktum suffered a front wing damage after his miserable luck in yesterday’s race. The London-born was forced into the pits for a new wing.

After retiring from the feature race with technical issues, Robert Shwartzman executed brilliant overtaking manoeuvres and moved up the order to P15 by the end of Lap 3.

In the meantime, the Renault-backed race leader built up a 4-second lead, showing a commanding pace just as he did it yesterday. Behind the Dane, the battle was getting ever more serious with Louis Deletraz attacking Markelov for second place. The Russian could not hold on and Deletraz made a tidy move at Turn 1.

Markelov was suffering from tyre degradation and Juri Vips also found the way to pass him on Lap 10. In the middle of the pack, Shwartzman was desperate to move up the order and managed to pass Pedro Piquet to take P14.

After taking over the championship lead yesterday, Mick Schumacher also passed Markelov into Turn 15, but the Russian could come back with his DRS wide open into the beautiful Turn 1, the San Donato bend. However, Schumacher showed no patience and passed his rival into the blindingly quick Arrabbiata 1. While battling with Schumacher, Markelov picked up front wing damage and was forced to pit.

Ilott continued his march towards the front of the field, passing Armstrong and improving to P9.

In the meantime, another drama exploded. Luca Ghiotto wanted to overtake his teammate Nikita Mazepin, but the Russian did not want to yield with the pair colliding at San Donato. Virtual safety car was deployed as the Italian had to park his car at the exit of Turn 1. Using this interruption, many from the back of the field pitted for fresh tyres.

After the action resumed, Lungaard managed to keep him out of trouble, maintaining his huge advantage. Deletraz and Vips also hang on to the second and third place respectively while Schumacher came home in fourth place.

“I said to the team before we went on track, there are 17 points on offer, and we came away with all of them, so I am very happy.”

Next on the schedule is the Russian round of the FIA F2 season. Schumacher will carry his Championship lead into Sochi in just under two weeks’ time for Round 10 of the season, but Ilott will be desperate to react after a tough weekend in Mugello.