On Saturday, India’s Jehan Daruvala raced to his 16th Formula 2 podium and fought really hard for the third-place finish in the Sprint race of the championship’s Saudi Arabian round in Jeddah. The 24-year-old MP Motorsport driver started fifth and was hustling
eventual winner Ayumu Iwasa for the win, but dropped to third just
three laps from the end, after making a daring bid for the lead,
very nearly earned him his first win of the season.
Still, he crossed the line just over a second behind Iwasa and less
than half a second behind runner-up Victor Martins to score his second
successive podiums around the barrier-lined, high-speed sweeps of the
Red Sea track.
“To be honest, there are a bunch of mixed emotions,” said Jehan after the race.
“I would definitely say I was disappointed I didn’t win because the
car was very good, and I had a lot of pace today but, also not
disappointed because I took a lot of risks.”
“I have no regrets. I tried to win the race and, in the end, it didn’t
pay off,” he added.
Jehan made a lightning start off the line but was boxed in by the
Campos cars of Ralph Boschung and compatriot Kush Maini.
A second-lap safety car that bunched the field up gave him a shot at
passing Maini and Jehan duly seized the opportunity to muscle his way
past his fellow Indian and set off in pursuit of Red Bull-backed racer
Jak Crawford. Jehan despatched Crawford on Lap 7 just a few seconds before a collision.
Between Theo Pourchaire and Oliver Bearman triggered a second safety
car period. Jehan was hot on second-placed Boschung’s heels as the race got
underway. The Swiss racer was powerless to resist the MP Motorsport
racer’s charge as he swept around the outside of Turn 1 to take
second. Then, he battled Iwasa, he also kept the rapid Martins behind him at the bay. Before, ultimately having to concede after his turn 1 gamble for a fifth F2 win failed to pay off. he podium was Jehan’s first of the season. Set to move up one spot on
the grid to fourth after a penalty for Theo Pourchaire, he has a good
chance of completing a podium sweep.
Jehan, however, is eyeing victory. “All in all, I’m happy,” he said.
“I think I can even fight for the win tomorrow in the Feature Race.”