Jak Crawford converted pole into his third Formula 2 Feature Race win of the season in Baku. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver resisted a charging Joshua Duerksen to the line, while Dino Beganovic inherited third after Leonardo Fornaroli’s penalty.
Crawford’s pole lap set up the perfect chance after a dramatic Friday session – read my full Baku Qualifying report here.
Crawford controlled the race from the front, but it was never straightforward. Safety Cars, strategy swings, and steward decisions all played their part before the American finally crossed the line just 0.7s clear of Duerksen. Beganovic joined them on the podium after Fornaroli was penalised post-race.
Start and early battles
The front row launch was clean. Crawford covered the inside, Duerksen slotted into second, and Fornaroli held third. Behind, Martí clashed with Stenshorne into Turn 1, forcing both wide but continuing.
Shields made early gains from the midfield, but his progress was short-lived. A clash at Turn 3 brought out the first Safety Car. The restart kept the order stable, with Crawford managing the pace.
Mid-race strategy
Duerksen stayed close, often within DRS range, but could not find a way through. Fornaroli shadowed in third, while Beganovic and Minì battled just behind.
Pit stops on Lap 15 shook the order. Crawford’s DAMS crew nailed the call, keeping him ahead of Duerksen. Fornaroli briefly looked set for second, but the Paraguayan’s pace reeled him back in.
Final laps decide podium
The final stint saw pressure intensify. Duerksen attacked Crawford into Turn 1 but locked up, giving the leader breathing room.
Behind them, Martí crossed the line sixth on the road, but stewards later issued a 10 second penalty for contact with Stenshorne. Fornaroli was also sanctioned, dropping him from third on the road to fifth. That promoted Beganovic to third and Minì to fourth.
Post-race penalties
Following the race, the Stewards applied three separate penalties that altered the final classification:
- Leonardo Fornaroli – 10 second penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Dunne. Dropped from 3rd to 5th.
- Josep María Martí – 10 second penalty for causing a collision with Martinius Stenshorne at Turn 1. Fell from 6th to 11th.
- Cian Shields – 10 second penalty for setting a fastest minisector under Yellow Flag conditions at Turn 15. Remained classified 18th.
Top 10 results
- Jak Crawford (DAMS Lucas Oil)
- Joshua Duerksen (AIX Racing)
- Dino Beganovic (Hitech TGR)
- Gabriele Minì (PREMA Racing)
- Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta Racing)
- Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport)
- Sebastián Montoya (PREMA Racing)
- Rafael Villagómez (Van Amersfoort Racing)
- John Bennett (Van Amersfoort Racing)
- Amaury Cordeel (Rodin Motorsport)
Fastest lap: Joshua Duerksen – 1:56.794 (Lap 11)
Crawford: “We executed perfectly”
“That was a tough one,” Crawford said. “Josh kept me honest all race, but we executed perfectly as a team. It feels great to get another win here and keep building momentum in the championship.”
Championship standings
Drivers’ top 5
- Leonardo Fornaroli – 186 pts
- Luke Browning – 153 pts
- Jak Crawford – 151 pts
- Richard Verschoor – 150 pts
- Josep María Martí – 133 pts
Teams’ top 5
- Invicta Racing – 280 pts
- Hitech TGR – 238 pts
- Campos Racing – 222 pts
- DAMS Lucas Oil – 206 pts
- PREMA Racing – 183 pts
For Saturday’s action, see how Beganovic and Hitech swept the Baku Sprint.
Next stop: Lusail
Formula 2 takes a break before returning for the penultimate round of the 2025 campaign at Lusail, Qatar, on 28–30 November. With just two weekends left, Fornaroli leads the standings, but Crawford’s third Feature Race win has blown the title fight wide open.
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