Jak Crawford converted pole position into a victory on the streets of Baku, resisting a late charge from Joshua Durksen to secure another Feature Race win of the season. The American held his nerve under immense pressure in the closing laps, crossing the line ahead of Durksen and Ferrari Academy talent Dino Beganovic.
Early Chaos
The race began under slightly unpredictable conditions after overnight rain had washed the rubber from the track. From the start, Italian drivers shone: Leonardo Fornaroli snatched the lead from Crawford into Turn 1, while Gabriele Minì also found space to move into second. However, Crawford quickly regrouped, reclaiming second on lap two and soon resuming his battle for the win.
Early chaos arrived when Martinius Stenshorne crashed heavily into the barriers on lap 5, bringing out the Safety Car. The restart reshuffled the order, with Minì briefly taking control before Crawford regained the advantage.
Mid-Race Twists and Penalties
The middle phase saw many overtakes and mistakes. Dunne impressed with a bold move on Fornaroli, but the Italian struck back, only to collide with the Irishman. The contact earned Fornaroli a 10-second penalty, forcing him to push hard to build a gap over his pursuers.
Durksen, meanwhile, delivered one of the standout drives of the season. Starting 15th, the Paraguayan sliced through the field with ever-growing pace, eventually overtaking Minì and setting his sights on Crawford.
A Grand Finale
With just three laps remaining, Durksen closed to within striking distance of the leader, launching multiple attacks into Turn 1 and Turn 5. Crawford defended robustly, holding the inside lines and refusing to crack under pressure. The American’s composure proved decisive as he sealed victory on the final straight.
Beganovic completed the podium after passing Minì in the latter stages, while Fornaroli, despite his penalty, salvaged fifth place ahead of Martí. Lindblad, Dunne, and Villagomez rounded out the points in a race full of drama and strategy.
Takeaways
Crawford’s win was not only a personal triumph but also a much-needed boost in the championship fight, recovering from costly non-finishes earlier in the season. Fornaroli’s penalty denied him a potential record-breaking fifth consecutive victory, while Durksen’s storming drive from the back of the grid marked him as one of the revelations of the weekend.
Baku once again delivered a spectacular F2 Feature Race, with drama at every stage and a finale that kept fans on edge until the checkered flag.
See you in Qatar!