Martins wins as Correa returns to F2 podium for first time since Spa crash · RaceFans

Alpine junior driver Victor Martins ended a disappointing run of form by winning the Barcelona sprint race ahead of Kush Maini.

The two Alpine-backed drivers claimed the top two spots on the podium after second-place finisher Ritomo Miyata was hit with multiple penalties for track limits infringements.

Juan Manuel Correa finished third to secure his first podium position in Formula 2 for five years. He returned to the rostrum for the first time since he suffered serious injuries in the accident that killed Anthoine Hubert in 2019.

Martins took the lead from reverse-grid pole-winner Maini with Ritomo Miyata moving up into second place with Maini falling to third ahead of Invicta team mate Gabriel Bortoleto. With no scheduled pit stops for the sprint race and concerns over the lifespan of the tyres, drivers quickly began pacing themselves to preserve their tyres.

Several drivers fell foul of the stewards for multiple track limits infringements during the race. Many received black-and-white warning flags for three infringements including Zane Maloney, Juan Manuel Correa and Oliver Bearman

With just under 10 laps remaining, second-placed Miyata was hit with a five-second time penalty for repeated track limits infringements, effectively dropping him out of contention for the podium despite running in second place. That opened the battle for the final podium places to a three-way fight between Maini, Bortoleto and Correa.

Correa managed to pull off a bold pass on Bortoleto on the penultimate lap into turn ten, moving him into fourth but effectively onto the podium. The championship leader then attacked Bortoleto and passed him into turn four to pick up another position.

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Martins remained untroubled out front and took the chequered flag to win by 2.6 seconds from Miyata, who was immediately demoted behind Maini and Correa. Paul Aron took fourth to retain his championship lead, with Jak Crawford in fifth and Bortoleto in sixth.

Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar finished one place ahead of Miyata, who was hit with a second five second penalty for another track limits violation. Dennis Hauger and Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed the top ten.

Formula 2 Spain race one results