Formula 2’s feature race in Melbourne on Sunday was cancelled after heavy rain hit the circuit and race organisers deemed that weather conditions would not improve sufficiently. No points were awarded with only five formation laps completed, though Victor Martins will score two points for being on pole position.

By Calla Kra-Caskey and Martin Lloyd

The planned 33-lap race at the Albert Park circuit was originally scheduled to start at 11:30 local time with drivers doing a formation lap behind the safety car on wet tyres. The start was aborted, however, because of a mechanical issue on the grid for MP’s Richard Verschoor, and the formation lap was delayed by ten minutes to 11:42.

The race was then red-flagged during the formation lap because of the conditions. Thunder was also reported in the vicinity of the circuit.

Rodin Motorsport rookie Alex Dunne, due to start 15th, stalled as the cars returned to pit lane. He initially pushed his car down pit lane himself before marshals assisted him. They also pushed the seven cars that were lined up behind Dunne and could not pass him. 

After a delay, another formation lap was scheduled for 12:04 local time. Conditions did not improve, and it was pushed back to 12:09, 12:15 and finally 12:18, when the race eventually restarted.

Drivers completed four formation laps behind the safety car. Verschoor’s teammate at MP, Oliver Goethe, spun from 16th place during the third but avoided falling to the rear of the field or hitting the barriers. 

A second red flag was called at 12:27, and the race was cancelled upon the drivers’ return to pit lane.

The rain abated shortly after the race was cancelled and was no longer falling just after 13:00 local, Feeder Series can report. But with a tight schedule before F1’s Australian Grand Prix, for which build-up events were due to begin at 12:50, there was little option but to abandon the session.

No points were awarded for the race as there were no green-flag laps completed, but an F2 spokesperson confirmed to Feeder Series that Martins would keep his two points for pole position. 

F2 has also confirmed to Feeder Series that the 10-place grid penalties awarded to six drivers for both the sprint and feature races because of illegally installed sensors during pre-season testing have been declared served.

Additional reporting by Kaylene Lau and Michael McClure

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency