Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Race report

Monza F2: Makino takes shock maiden win from 14th

Honda protege Tadasuke Makino took a shock maiden Formula 2 win in the Monza feature race from 14th on the grid, leading Russian Time teammate Artem Markelov.

Podium: race winner Tadasuke Makino, RUSSIAN TIME, second place Artem Markelov, RUSSIAN TIME. third place Alexander Albon, DAMS

Podium: race winner Tadasuke Makino, RUSSIAN TIME, second place Artem Markelov, RUSSIAN TIME. third place Alexander Albon, DAMS

FIA Formula 2

Makino was one of three drivers to start on medium tyres and, despite lining up on the grid only 14th, he found himself leading the race in just five laps as the rest of the field on supersofts struggled.

He took the lead away from Markelov, who remained his closest rival after everyone on supersofts pitted over the course of two laps, the gap between them the pair staying at around 45 seconds.

Makino maintained most of his advantage, only allowing Markelov to cut it by around five seconds and, when he completed his pitstop on lap 28 of 30, he rejoined two seconds in the clear.

On fresh supersofts, Makino cruised to the finish to take his maiden win, becoming the 10th different race winner in F2 this year, with Markelov completing a Russian Time 1-2.

Markelov was the early leader of the race from fourth on the grid, helped by Sergio Sette Camara (Carlin) having to pit at the end of his formation lap, and pole-sitter George Russell bogging down.

He was temporarily passed by Alexander Albon (DAMS) but repassed him before they pitted for mediums.

As Albon lost out to Russell in the pits, the championship leader also passed Markelov on fresh mediums, but the Russian once again fought back and then led the group that started on supersofts until the finish.

Russell was subsequently passed by Albon, who ended up completing the podium, and the Mercedes junior was then engaged in a thrilling fight with title rival Lando Norris.

Carlin driver Norris pulled off a tight move from the exit of the opening chicane, but could not hold on as ART's Russell fought back and eventually secured fourth.

Norris also fell behind the second DAMS car of Nicholas Latifi, settling for sixth, and is now 13 points behind Russell in the standings.

His teammate Sette Camara impressively recovered from dropping to last as he pitted at the end of the formation lap to seventh and set the fastest lap of the race.

Local driver Antonio Fuoco (Charouz) will start Sunday's reverse grid pole as he took eighth.

MP duo Ralph Boschung and Dorian Boccolacci were the other two drivers on the same strategy as Makino, and spent most of the race second and third after the early flurry of stops.

While Boccolacci couldn't keep his tyres alive long enough and had to pit too early before retiring with a car problem, Boschung rejoined from his tyre change in seventh, and only lost two places to take ninth from 18th on the grid.

Outside title contender Nyck de Vries (Prema) took the final point in 10th.

Jack Aitken and Arjun Maini both retired from the race, while Alessio Lorandi was hit by Roy Nissany on the braking point into the Roggia chicane, the duo rounding out the order in 16th and 17th respectively.

Race results:

Pos. Driver Team Time/Gap
1 Tadasuke Makino  Russian Federation RUSSIAN TIME 49'10.197
2 Russian Federation Artem Markelov  Russian Federation RUSSIAN TIME 1.798
3 Thailand Alexander Albon  France DAMS 3.106
4 United Kingdom George Russell  France ART Grand Prix 6.178
5 Canada Nicholas Latifi  France DAMS 8.274
6 United Kingdom Lando Norris  United Kingdom Carlin 9.017
7 Sérgio Sette Camara United Kingdom Carlin 18.218
8 Italy Antonio Fuoco  Charouz Racing System 24.853
9 Switzerland Ralph Boschung  Netherlands MP Motorsport 27.131
10 Netherlands Nyck de Vries  Italy Prema Powerteam 27.203
11 Italy Luca Ghiotto  Spain Campos Racing 30.393
12 Indonesia Sean Gelael  Italy Prema Powerteam 43.580
13 Maximilian Günther  United Kingdom Arden International 45.373
14 Switzerland Louis Deletraz  Charouz Racing System 45.492
15 Japan Nirei Fukuzumi  United Kingdom Arden International 48.839
16 Italy Alessio Lorandi  Italy Trident 52.556
17 Israel Roy Nissany  Spain Campos Racing 1 Lap
18 United Kingdom Jack Aitken  France ART Grand Prix 2 Laps
Ret France Dorian Boccolacci  Netherlands MP Motorsport 6 Laps
Ret India Arjun Maini  Italy Trident 8 Laps

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Monza F2: Russell bags crucial pole
Next article Ferrari junior Fuoco stripped of Monza F2 sprint race pole

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA