Callum Ilott takes maiden FIA Formula Two Championship victory with win in season opener at Red Bull Ring in Austria
Callum Ilott leads the FIA Formula Two Championship after his maiden F2 victory in a thrilling season-opening race in Austria at the weekend.
The 21-year-old former Bishop's Stortford College pupil won Saturday's 40-lap, 170km feature race at the Red Bull Ring and clocked the fastest lap to give him the maximum 27 points.
And although the UNI-Virtuosi Racing driver finished ninth, just outside the points for the top eight in Sunday's 28-lap, 120km sprint race, his performance the day before was good enough to put him top of the standings going into this weekend's second round, which takes place at the same circuit.
Starting from third position on Saturday, Ilott – who finished 11th in his 2019 debut F2 season driving for Sauber Junior Team by Charouz – finished around nine seconds ahead of Kiwi Marcus Armstrong and Russian fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member Robert Shwartzman.
But there could have been a different outcome had his UNI-Virtuosi Racing team-mate, Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou, who started in pole position, not experienced mechanical issues late on.
Ilott made a solid start off the grid to fly into the lead before turn one. Battling hard with Zhou, the pair raced side by side through a number of corners before Ilott was forced to yield the position before the fast-sweeping turn seven and tucked into second place.
Taking the mandatory pit stop a lap after his team-mate and from second place, Ilott rejoined the race ahead of Zhou but was soon passed by the driver on the up-to-temperature, harder-compound tyres.
Ilott then had the task of passing Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who had jumped him in the pit stops, and, after patiently waiting for his opportunity, passed his fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member to retake second place.
Zhou then encountered mechanical issues and handed Ilott the lead. Despite a late safety car, the young Englishman showed strong pace in the remaining laps to take his maiden FIA F2 win.
Ilott said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant feeling to win my first FIA F2 race.
"Zhou and I had some great battles at the start and I was maybe over-pushing a little, but we both still had great pace. It’s such a shame for Zhou, he was dominating the race up until his problem and it would have been a great finish to the race.
"A huge thank you to the team, who have done such an amazing job so far this weekend, and probably deserved two drivers on the podium, but to come in and win my first race with them is a dream come true.
“I knew coming into this season that I've got to do a good job. I have experience from last year and I’m with a great team who have really helped me get back into the rhythm since lockdown. Now I’m back in that rhythm, I feel like we’re set for some good results to come. The competition is really high this year but I’m confident we can keep them behind.”
Reviewing the weekend, which started with qualifying on Friday, he said: "Race one was my best-ever start in F2, getting into the lead before turn one. After that, Zhou and I were having a great fight and it was a fun scrap at the beginning. Mick [Schumacher] then got involved as well and we were fighting until the pit stops, where everyone undercut each other.
"Coming out on the prime tyres, it felt like we had a lot of pace once we got them up to temperature. Obviously, Zhou had a lot of bad luck with his issue and I'm really gutted for him. He drove a great race and was really, really pushing the pace and I think we would've had a good race at the end.
"After the late safety car, I was able to break away and set some really good times at the end.
"It's great to start the year like this and I want to say a big thanks to the team for putting on a fantastic car. To come straight into the team and win our first race together is an amazing feeling, so big thanks to them for helping me take my first F2 win."
The grid for Sunday's sprint race is based on the results of the feature race, with the top eight drivers having their positions reversed.
Ilott said: "Sunday's race was tougher. I got a good start but didn't have anywhere to go at turn one so ended up on the back foot on the run up the hill. I was able to keep pace with the guys in front of me, but, unfortunately, we just didn't have enough speed to push forward.
"Overall, though, an amazing start to the year and life with UNI-Virtuosi Racing. It's great that we have another weekend here in Austria and I'll be looking to carry this momentum through to next week."
