Vips takes comfortable Formula 2 win in chaotic second Baku sprint race

Starting third on the grid behind Bent Viscaal and David Beckmann, Vips was unable to get ahead off the start.

Beckmann took the lead of the race with an impressive switchback on Viscaal into Turn 4. 

Once the first Safety Car period ended, Vips got past Viscaal into Turn 2 with a late lunge on Lap 4.

Another Safety Car was deployed shortly after when Roy Nissany hit the back of Richard Verschoor into Turn 3.

A brief Virtual Safety Car period halted Vips’ progress until Lap 11, when he finally got past Beckmann with the use of DRS into Turn 1.

The Red Bull-backed junior ran out a comfortable winner, beating Beckmann by over three seconds. 

Jehan Daruvala maintained third ahead of Viscaal and Robert Shwartzman.

Dan Ticktum was one of the stars of the afternoon after he was spun by Guanyu Zhou on the opening lap into Turn 1.

Ticktum was brilliant on the brakes throughout, recovering from the back to finish sixth ahead of Liam Lawson and Oscar Piastri.

Theo Pourchaire was left to rue contact with Verschoor early on as he picked up wing damage on the opening lap.

Pourchaire ultimately finished ninth ahead of Felipe Drugovich in tenth. 

Current points leader Zhou failed to make the chequered flag and could be subject to a penalty from the stewards after his contact with Ticktum on Lap 1.

It was another disappointing race for Marcus Armstrong and Christian Lundgaard. 

Armstrong crashed out on Lap 4 while battling Viscaal into Turn 4, while Lundgaard was spun at Turn 1 following the second Safety Car restart.

Click here for the full results from the second sprint race in Azerbaijan.