Sakhir: India’s Jehan Daruvala stormed to his maiden Formula 2 win as Mick Schumacher celebrated his impending move into Formula One by clinching the F2 title.
Daruvala took his first F2 victory after Schumacher had flat-spotted a tyre on the first lap in his Prema car. “P1! Feels really good to end the season on a high. A big thank you to team and everyone who’s supported me throughout the season. See you next year,” he tweeted.
Mick Schumacher finished out of the points but still clinched the Formula Two title in Bahrain on Sunday in the German’s last race before moving up to Formula One with the US-owned Haas team.
The 21-year-old son of seven-time world champion and Ferrari great Michael was 18th in a sprint race won by Jehan Daruvala but his title rival Callum Ilott was 10th with only the top eight scoring.
Schumacher signed off with 215 points, 14 clear of Briton Ilott, with Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda, now expected to move up to Formula One with Red Bull’s Honda-powered AlphaTauri team, a further point behind.
Tyre damage forced the German to pit after 15 laps, sending him to the back of the field.
Daruvala came out on top of a race-long battle with Dan Ticktum, to win by 2.9s and the DAMS’ driver ended up in third after a late overtake from Feature Race winner Yuki Tsunoda, who secured a Carlin one-two. For a moment, it looked as if the title was slipping out of Schumacher’s fingers after an early lock-up damaged his tyres and forced him into an unwanted pitstop. The German ended up in 18th, but Callum Ilott was unable to secure enough points to snatch the crown, dropping down from third and ending his F2 career with a 10th place finish.