Montmeló, just out of the points

The FIA Formula 2 Championship opened the sixth round of the season on the Catalan track of Montmeló, which today saw the drivers of the junior formula compete in the Sprint Race. In an extremely hard-fought qualifying session, with minimal gaps, the Trident Motorsport drivers, despite having a good pace, were unable to find a perfect feeling with the Spanish circuit.

Max Esterson, author of the sixteenth fastest time, lacked the final spark to aim for the top-10. Two while two small mistakes cost Sami Meguetounif to obtain the eighteenth fastest time. Esterson, who started from the fifteenth spot on the grid, taking advantage of a penalty inflicted on an opponent, stalled at the start. The twenty-two-year-old American then slipped to the back of the pack, finishing the race in twenty-third position.

It was a fighting Sprint Race for Sami Meguetounif. Starting eighteenth, the driver from Marseille immediately tried to make his way up to fourteenth position. The intervention of the safety car, on lap 18, saw Meguetounif return to the pits to fit fresh Option tyres. The strategy of the Trident Motorsport staff paid off so much that at the restart the Frenchman put together a series of overtaking moves to finish tenth, just a step away from the points zone, despite being stuck in traffic.

On a track where it is traditionally difficult to overtake, likeMontmeló, Meguetounif provided an encouraging signal ahead of tomorrow's Feature Race, scheduled for 10:00, when the Trident Racing drivers will attempt to take advantage of the mandatory pit stop and of the strategy to finish in the points.

Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: “Max Esterson, who started from fifteenth on the starting grid, stalled at the start and dropped to the back of the pack. With Sami Meguetounif we chose to make the tire change while the race was under safety car. The strategy allowed the French driver, despite being slowed down by traffic, to climb up to tenth place under the flag.”