FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP Round 11 – 28/29/30 Sep – Sochi, Russia

Top 10 finish for Maximilian Günther after a strong performance in the rain in Sochi

The penultimate event of the Formula 2 season in Sochi began promisingly when Maximilian Günther qualified in tenth place and moved up to eighth position after an excellent start in the first race on Saturday. But the BWT Arden driver was again thrown back by technical problems.

From the second lap the German had no hydraulic pressure in the car and dropped back to the back of the field. Although he had no DRS and could not shift gears properly in the race due to the hydraulic problem, Maximilian showed an impressive performance and moved up to twelfth position. Two laps before the end he was hit by a competitor and that ended his race prematurely.

Consequently, Maximilian had to start from 16th place into the 22nd race of the season. Halfway through the race, rain started to fall and created difficult conditions on the 5.848 kilometre long circuit. Nine laps before the chequered flag, Maximilian changed to rain tyres and moved up to 10th position after a strong pace in the wet and finished just outside the points.

With 41 points Maximilian currently ranks 14th in the drivers’ championship. The season final will take place from 23 to 25 November in Abu Dhabi.

Maximilian Günther: “It was another difficult weekend on which I had to struggle with technical problems. I was able to work my way through the field despite the difficulties in Saturday’s race and I also had a strong pace in the rain on Sunday. Before the final we have to mobilise everything to finish the season with a good result.”