French double in Imola. Two French drivers won this Sunday morning during the races organized in Formula 2 and Formula 3, the secondary circuits which serve as an antechamber to F1. In F2, it was Isack Hadjar who raised his arms by winning on the legendary Italian circuit, winning his second consecutive victory in the main race.
Starting in third position, the Red Bull driver had a superb race, taking advantage of the missed start of pole sitter Gabriel Bortoleto to quickly take control of operations. Put under pressure by his Brazilian rival until the last laps, Hadjar held on, never giving him the opportunity to benefit from DRS. “It was the most difficult race of my career,” declared the 19-year-old driver on Canal + at the end of the race.
ISACK HADJAR’S VICTORY!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
The Campos driver runs a perfect race and holds Bortoleto to the line to take his 2nd long race victory after the one in Australia 🏆
Durksen is 3rd ahead of Antonelli, Martins 9th with the fastest lap. #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/Y2ghKXAGut
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 19, 2024
This great victory allows him to move back into third place in the drivers’ standings. With 59 points, the Parisian is only nine points behind leader Zane Maloney, one week before a race which promises to be thrilling in Monaco.
In F3, Sami Meguetounif made the French colors shine. Third on the grid, the Marseille native scored the first victory of his career at this level. The Trident driver dropped German Oliver Goethe, winner of the sprint the day before, on lap 17 and never let go of the lead again. This is the first French success in F3 since… Isack Hadjar, in Austria two years ago. Meguetounif, who is playing his first season on the circuit, now occupies sixth place, fourteen points behind the leader, Leonardo Fornaroli.
