Markelov grabs Monaco F2 win, Albon and de Vries collide
Renault Formula 1 development driver Artem Markelov secured his second Formula 2 victory of the 2018 season in the Monaco feature race, as Alexander Albon and Nyck de Vries collided.
Markelov was third in the opening phase of the race behind polesitter and early leader Albon, with de Vries in second.
The safety car was deployed on lap 12 of 42. Both Albon and de Vries opted to pit, but with the DAMS driver committing late to pitlane, the two tangled on the entry. Albon was spun and de Vries suffered suspension damage.
Both eventually retired. Markelov, who opted not to stop during the safety car had to build a lead over Prema Racing’s Sean Gelael – the furthest forward of the drivers who had already stopped despite having started 12th.
Building a lead of over 25 seconds, Markelov was able on to pit on lap 35 and reemerge ahead of Gelael to take victory.
Both Gelael and Roberto Merhi took advantage of having pitted before the lap 12 safety car to end up second and third. It was their first podium finishes of the season.
Charouz Racing System’s Louis Deletraz finished fourth having used the same strategy.
Arjun Maini finished fifth. He did not pit until lap 33, having run in second place behind Markelov after the safety car. When emerging from the pits, Maini successfully defended his position from Lando Norris.
McLaren F1 reserve Norris ended up sixth, extending his championship lead despite having started in 18th.
He pitched Ralph Boschung into the barriers at the final corner, with Boschung’s damaged car triggering the lap 12 safety car. Norris received a drive-through penalty for the incident but managed to jump several cars when they eventually pitted.
Jack Aitken and Antonio Fuoco finished seventh and eighth respectively. Fuoco was another driver who received a drive-through penalty after he squeezed Luca Ghiotto into the barriers and out of the race within the first few metres at the start.
Nicholas Latifi missed out on eighth place and reverse grid pole by one second, finishing in ninth while Nirei Fukuzumi rounded out the top 10.
Mercedes F1 junior George Russell hit the barriers at La Rasscasse when attempting an overtake on Fukuzumi in the opening laps. He was one of five retirements.