Sprint Race, double retirement in the first home track race
The FIA Formula 2 Championship kicked off its eleventh round of the season at the Monza circuit, which today saw the drivers of the second category compete in the Sprint Race. In qualifying, the Trident Motorsport drivers enjoyed a mixed session. While Sami Meguetounif excelled, posting the ninth fastest time, Max Esterson had to settle for twenty-first, forcing him to face a two-race comeback.
In the Sprint Race, Sami Meguetounif started from second place due to a grid based on the top ten qualifying times reversed. However, the Trident Motorsport driver had to relinquish second place on the first lap. Due to the deployment of the safety car following a collision in the midfield, Meguetounif was unable to defend his position. Difficulty maintaining tire temperature further complicated the rest of the race, leaving the Frenchman more vulnerable to attacks from his rivals. Dropping to sixth place at the start of lap nine, Meguetounif was then touched by a rival. The damage sustained to his car effectively forced him to retire.
Max Esterson also had a complex Sprint Race. Forced to start from the last row, the other Trident Motorsport driver staged a strong recovery, climbing the standings with consistency and determination. The twenty-two-year-old from the United States pulled off a series of overtaking moves to settle into fourteenth place. Unfortunately, with less than four laps to go, an engine failure also forced Esterson to retire.
Ahead of tomorrow's Feature Race, the Trident Motorsport drivers will be able to use the mandatory pit stop to try to differentiate their strategy and aim for the points. Knowledge of the Monza track, the home circuit of the Milanese team with its operational headquarters in Ossona, will also play a key role. It will also be important to address the reliability issues that forced Esterson to retire early.
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: "It wasn't the race we expected. Sami Meguetounif was in a position to finish in the points, but contact with a rival damaged his car. Max Esterson mounted a solid comeback, but an engine issue forced him to retire."