Nikola Tsolov takes the Formula 2 Feature race in Monaco in a flawless performance, ahead of Alexander Dunne and Dino Beganovic. After yesterday’s Sprint race, Tsolov took the spotlight in the main event after an outstanding drive starting from the first row. With this victory, Nikola Tsolov became a back-to-back Feature race winner in Monaco, and a three-time race winner in this Formula 2 season.
Start of the main event
Rafael Câmara, starting from pole, had a great launch as Nikola Tsolov got behind him cleanly. Tsolov tried to pressure Câmara earlier on, hoping to fight the Invicta Racing driver for the lead. Further back, several drivers had slight contact at the start, but overall it was a clean start for the Formula 2 Feature race.
After the opening lap, Tsolov started building a gap to Alexander Dunne, running in third, and at the same time put himself in DRS range of Câmara as they started the fourth lap of the 42-lap race around the streets of Monaco. Due to the circuit’s layout and limited overtaking opportunities, the Feature race outcome now depended entirely on strategy.
As the lead group’s pace stabilised, action was happening further back. Dino Beganovic was under pressure from Gabriele Mini while chasing Dunne for third. In the middle of the pack, Kush Maini was preparing a move on Roman Bilinski in eighth. At the end of the grid, Rafael Villagomez made the first overtake of the Feature race on Sebástian Montoya.
Not even halfway through the Feature race, back at the front, Tsolov was once again closing the gap to Câmara. However, as they reached this point of the event, strategy and pit stops played a crucial role in overtaking. However, the race leader dictated the pace comfortably ahead of the Bulgarian driver.
Halfway through the Feature race
As the event reached the midway point, drivers started to make their pit stops. That proved to be the only opportunity for Tsolov to take the lead, but the timing of the pit stop had to be almost flawless. As the top 5 drivers pitted, the leaders, Câmara and Tsolov, opted for a different strategy, running on softs for as long as possible.
As the grid got shaken up, more action took place at the back of the grid, with Bilinski and Mini chasing down Noel Léon for 14th position. Several drivers were being investigated for infringement, as well as Nico Varrone, who was handed a penalty.
At the front, Nikola Tsolov was called into the pit lane on lap 33. In response, Rafael Câmara pitted right after the Campos Racing driver, exiting in front of Tsolov, properly defending from a possible overtake. However, Câmara struggled to regain the pace.
On lap 36, Nikola Tsolov caught up to Câmara, as the Invicta Racing driver locked up and went off track. Rafael Câmara was left parked outside the track, but a yellow flag was deployed as the Brazilian driver lost the lead in the Feature race. Nikola Tsolov became the new effective leader.
On the last lap, Beganovic and Maini battled it out for third place on the podium. It was the Swedish driver who managed to pull away from Maini and complete the podium. Nikola Tsolov claimed the Feature race win in Monaco, ahead of Dunne and Dino Beganovic, after an outstanding drive.
