Albon claims maiden F2 win in chaotic Baku feature race

DAMS’ Alexander Albon took his first Formula 2 victory during a frantic feature race at the Baku City Circuit, ahead of Jack Aitken and Antonio Fuoco. 

Albon, who secured his first F2 pole in qualifying, made an important late pass on Fuoco to seal the win, after the Charouz Racing System driver had inherited first place from erstwhile race-leader George Russell following a chaotic Safety Car restart.

Russell had led proceedings having leapfrogged pole sitter Albon during the mandatory pit stop window, but the Mercedes F1 junior’s race was turned on its head following the second Safety Car period. 

Prema’s Nyck De Vries attempted a late lunge up the inside of Russell on the run to Turn 1 but the Dutch driver locked up and ran wide, forcing Russell off in the process as both drivers plummeted down the order. 

Despite stalling on the formation lap, ART Grand Prix driver Aitken pulled off a remarkable recovery drive to take his maiden podium finish in second, diving down the inside of Fuoco at Turn 3 to snatch second place on the penultimate lap, with the Ferrari protege settling for third and a first podium for the new Charouz squad.

Carlin's Sergio Sette Camara was fourth, ahead of the second DAMS of Nicholas Latifi, who charged through from last place on the grid following a disastrous qualifying session to seal fifth. 

Early championship leader and McLaren F1 junior Lando Norris was another staller on the formation lap, but made the most of a hectic race to recover to sixth, ahead of MP Motorsport's Ralph Boschung and ex-F1 driver Roberto Merhi, who finished eighth to claim reverse grid pole for Sunday's sprint race. 

Russian Time's Tadasuke Makino was ninth, while Sean Gelael secured the final point in 10th for Prema. Santino Ferrucci, who was stripped of his fifth-place from qualifying after his Trident car failed to comply with the minimum tyre pressure, missed out on a point by just 0.7s in 11th.

Russell, who had looked set to claim his first win in the series before the late drama, ultimately crossed the line in 12th ahead of Arden's Nirei Fukuzumi, who was the final classified finisher.