2021 Formula 2 Saudi Arabian GP | From the eyes of Jehan Daruvala
The penultimate round of the 2021 Formula 2 season has been wrapped up at the newly built Corniche circuit in Jeddah. Indian Red Bull driver Jehan Daruvala had a difficult weekend after he failed to score a point in three races. However, there is more to this story. The fast corners of the Jeddah circuit proved to be a little tough for the young drivers to race in. Starting from crashes on the opening lap, to an accident severe enough to red flag a race, the weekend had it all. Even though Jehan was able to stay out of accidents and stay in the lead of one of the races, penalties gained during the event caused him to slip and finish outside the points. Now, let us take a look at how things shaped up for Jehan Daruvala at the 2021 F2 Saudi Arabian GP.
Sprint Race 1
Jehan and Carlin Racing were not the strongest ones on the grid at the start of the weekend. He started the race from P11, but he was able to snatch a few positions on the opening laps. However, the race was quickly halted as a barrage of crashes took place around him.
On the restart, Jehan was able to hold on to his position but was now being challenged by a charging Dan Ticktum. As the race progressed towards the finishing stages, Jehan started making his way through the pack and found himself in P6.
The race finished after 20 laps and Daruvala saw himself promoted to P5 with Robert Swartzman’s five-second time penalty. But unfortunate news struck him as he was handed a five-second time penalty for an illegal overtake along with a penalty point on his license by the FIA after the race. In the end, Jehan finished at P10.
Sprint Race 2
In Sprint Race 2, Jehan was able to start the race from pole as the reverse grid order on the previous race results was in effect. He had a decent start off the line, but his attempt to break away in the front was halted due to an early safety car.
Post restart, Daruvala was able to keep the lead of the race for 17 of the twenty laps but had to give up that position to a charging Oscar Piastri. Daruvala tried to keep his position by fighting back, but in the end, he crossed the checkered line in P2.
But in the end, Daruvala was handed yet another five-second time penalty and dropped all the way to P14. Jehan was struggling to make clean overtake attempts at Jeddah and both his time penalties denied the Indian driver from finishing in the points.
Feature Race
The final race of the weekend was tough for Daruvala as he had to start the race from P11. As the race was underway after a delayed start, the race was quickly halted as the red flag was brought out after a collision between Théo Pourchaire and Enzo Fittipaldi.
Both drivers were taken to the hospital and were deemed safe after the check-up with Enzo suffering from a fractured heel. The race was restarted from a rolling start but was quickly haled with a red flag after four laps. Guilherme Samaia and Olli Caldwell collided and this was enough evidence for the FIA to deem the race as dangerous and stop the race.
In the end, Jehan was unable to get in front of the cars ahead in the shortened race and finished P11. This concluded his weekend in Saudi Arabia and he walked away with no points.
PREMA Powerteam has officially won the Teams’ title with 375.7 points, ahead of Carlin on 235.5 and UNI-Virtuosi on 221. With three more races to go at the last weekend of F2 in Abu Dhabi, Jehan is in a tough spot. Now, Jehan has 96 points, which puts him 20 points behind Jüri Vips in P6 at the driver’s championship table while at the same time, it keeps the charging Liam Lawson behind by just three points. Will Jehan be able to challenge Vips for a potential P6 finish overall? Let us know in the comments below. For more news from the world of motorsports, stay tuned to evo India!
