Louis Delétraz: Storming the podium 🎥

The highlights of race 2 show how impressively Louis Delétraz stormed onto the podium from midfield in the final third of the race.

With an eleventh-place time, 33 thousandths behind championship leader Mick Schumacher, Louis Delétraz did not necessarily create the best conditions for a top result in the main race. On what was supposed to be his fastest qualifying lap at the Bahrain GP circuit, however, the 23-year-old from Geneva found himself blocked by an opponent.

That's why Delétraz knew he had the speed to push into the points and perhaps secure a front grid spot for Sunday thanks to the reversed grid rule (reverse order of the top 10).

Perfect timing
However, the only Swiss in the 22-strong Formula 2 field only finished the feature race over 32 laps in 16th position. The eighth row of the grid for Sunday's race therefore did not promise any more.

But Delétraz showed one of his best races over the course of the 23 laps, which was rewarded with his fifth podium of the season.

Louis Delétraz: "Initially the tire strategy didn't work out, but I was lucky to make the pit stop during the safety car period. After that I was only 18th, but the longer the race went on, the faster I progressed."

Two Russians before the Geneva
While Russia's Robert Shwartzman celebrated his fourth win of the season, Louis Delétraz ran in third place after 43 minutes in a position previously not thought possible. Nikita Mazepin ensured a Russian double victory, followed 1.2 seconds behind by the overwhelmed Genevan.

Louis Delétraz: "That was a crazy race. If someone had predicted me a podium, I would have signed right away. I have to thank the Charouz team, who set this strategy."

Now only one victory is missing
Because the Frenchman also set the fastest race lap of the top 10 finishers for the second time in the year, he received two additional points. Nevertheless, Delétraz remains in seventh place in the standings and now has no theoretical chance of winning the title.

His last goal for the season will be to finally win a race at the same venue next weekend - he actually has the speed to do so.

Schumacher or Ilott?
Theoretically, three drivers are still in contention for the crown, but only the two Ferrari Academy drivers Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will probably make it up. The German finished 4th and 7th and thus only scored 14 more points, two more than Delétraz.

The Briton came away empty-handed on Sunday (16th) after an incident, but his second place on Saturday from pole position earned him 22 points. Ilott thus reduced his gap in the standings to 191:205.

A win including the fastest time in qualifying and in Saturday's race would earn 31 points, something no driver has yet achieved in 2020. In the shorter second and final Sunday, there are a further twelve points for first place and two additional points for the fastest lap.

We will then race on the so-called Outer Circuit, which is only 3543 meters long, as part of the GP of Sakhir.

fiaformula2.com