Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the Red Bull Ring Sprint Race while Kush Maini brought home valuable championship points.
The 28-lap Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Red Bull Ring was as fast and frenetic as fans have come to expect from the iconic Austrian circuit. Its three DRS zones provide ample overtaking opportunities, and with high temperatures in the Styrian hills, high drama was sure to follow.
Kush Maini started from Sprint Race pole position for the second race in succession, but better starts for Oliver Bearman and Pepe Martí meant he was second by the exit of Turn 1 and, after going wide as a result of contact with Martí into Turn 3, was third at the end of the first tour. Team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto, meanwhile, started eighth and had made up a position on Lap 1 before getting past Franco Colapinto on the second lap.
As the field settled into an early-race rhythm, the Invicta Racing duo held third and sixth positions, but it wasn’t long before Gabriel was on the move again. At one third race distance, he scythed his way past Taylor Barnard and into the top five, while Kush was fending off the advances of championship leader Paul Aron.
With half the race completed, Gabriel joined the back of a five-car DRS train battling for the lead, making it two Invicta Racing cars in the group. For six laps, tension built as the pack sized up their opponents.
Finally, it was Kush who dropped out of DRS range, leaving him vulnerable to Aron behind. Slight contact was made at Turn 3, and Aron made his move on the exit. Gabriel soon followed around the outside of Turn 4.
Just five laps remained as Gabriel pressured Aron for the final podium place. Try as he might, he was unable to make a move stick and had to settle for a hard-fought fourth place, earning himself five points in the process. Kush came under increasing pressure in the closing stages and ended up dropping to seventh by the chequered flag to score two points.
Sprint Race results
- Gabriel Bortoleto: P04, five points
- Kush Maini: P07, two points
Quotes
GABRIEL BORTOLETO:
I really enjoyed that race. There was plenty of overtaking and opportunities no matter where you started on the grid, which is what makes the Red Bull Ring such an exciting track for drivers and spectators. It was frustrating not to get past Paul [Aron] in those final few laps, but I think our pace today was really encouraging. I’m hopeful we can fight for the top spots tomorrow.
KUSH MAINI:
It was a shame not to be able to capitalise on the pole position for today’s race. Oliver [Bearman] just got a better launch than me and I was on the back foot from then on. Tomorrow is another day, though, and hopefully, we can use what we’ve learned in the sprint to maximise the Feature Race.
ANDY ROCHE, TEAM PRINCIPAL:
There are a lot of positives the team can take from today. Both drivers were fighting for the podium at various stages of the race, and both of them scored points. Starting from third, Gabriel stands an excellent chance of fighting for the podium in tomorrow’s Feature Race, and Kush has a great opportunity to fight through the pack to secure some big points.
