F2 Silverstone: Shwartzman wins opener from Vips
Robert Shwartzman took his second FIA Formula 2 win of the year in the first sprint race at Silverstone, with a great start putting him into the lead from fourth.
The Prema Racing driver claimed victory in a race which saw three safety cars, his second win in as many rounds after winning the first sprint race in Baku.
He crossed the finish line having led every lap ahead of Juri Vips of Hitech Grand Prix, with Christian Lundgaard (ART Grand Prix) completing the podium.
Felipe Drugovich finished fourth for UNI-Virtuosi, with the ART Grand Prix of Theo Pourchaire, returning from suffering a fractured arm at the last round in Azerbaijan, in fifth.
Oscar Piastri finished sixth for Prema Racing, with Liam Lawson in seventh for Hitech Grand Prix and Dan Ticktum finishing his home race eighth for Carlin.
Shwartzman leapt into the lead off the line, passing the three cars in front of him to lead the pack into Turn 1.
Piastri also got a good start, jumping three places at the start to move up to seventh.
Championship leader Guanyu Zhou spun at Turn 3 after catching his UNI-Virtuosi on the kerb and losing the rear, prompting a safety car.
Seconds later, Roy Nissany’s race was also ended when the DAMS went into the gravel after contact with Lundgaard in an incident which will be investigated after the race.
The safety car ended on lap 3, leaving Lawson, Piastri and Ticktum to battle for sixth into lap 4, tussling into Maggots and Becketts, with Marcus Armstrong catching up to the back of them for DAMS.
Ticktum was left struggling to overtake after suffering a crack to the front wing.
Alessio Deledda (HWA Racelab) then prompted another safety car after spinning and ending up in the middle of the track.
Shwartzman led the pack away from the second safety car on lap 6, before Piastri passed Liam Lawson on the inside for sixth.
Oscar Piastri, Prema Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Marino Sato of Trident pitted under the safety car and remained in the garage for four laps with a mechanical issue before returning back out on track behind the pack.
There was another safety car on lap 12 after the Charouz Racing System car of Guilherme Samaia went off into the gravel in sector two.
Jack Aitken pitted under the safety car for HWA Racelab but was hit with a slow stop after his front right wheel locked.
Racing resumed on lap 14, with the midfield battle between Lawson, Ticktum and Armstrong continuing, while Lirim Zendeli of MP Motorsport and the Carlin of Jehan Daruvala also approached for a look-in on the action.
Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) swept past David Beckmann’s Charouz Racing System car into 12th on lap 16, having pitted for fresh tyres under the last safety car, before passing his team-mate down the inside with three laps to go.
With the top 10 reversed for this afternoon’s second sprint race, Verschoor will start on pole, with Armstrong in second, Ticktum in third and Lawson in fourth.
Piastri now leads the championship standings after taking the two bonus points for the fastest lap, with Shwartzman in second and Zhou in third.
Results
| Cla | Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Robert Shwartzman |
 Prema Powerteam |
21 | - | |
| 2 |  Jüri Vips |
 HitechGP |
21 | 0.900 | 0.900 |
| 3 |  Christian Lundgaard |
 ART Grand Prix |
21 | 2.500 | 2.500 |
| 4 |  Felipe Drugovich |
UNI-Virtuosi |
21 | 5.000 | 5.000 |
| 5 | Theo Pourchaire |
ART Grand Prix |
21 | 5.500 | 5.500 |
| 6 |  Oscar Piastri |
Prema Powerteam |
21 | 8.400 | 8.400 |
| 7 |  Liam Lawson |
HitechGP |
21 | 11.600 | 11.600 |
| 8 | Dan Ticktum |
Carlin |
21 | 12.300 | 12.300 |
| 9 | Marcus Armstrong |
DAMS |
21 | 12.700 | 12.700 |
| 10 |  Richard Verschoor |
MP Motorsport |
21 | 13.600 | 13.600 |
| 11 |  Lirim Zendeli |
MP Motorsport |
21 | 14.200 | 14.200 |
| 12 |  Jehan Daruvala |
Carlin |
21 | 16.600 | 16.600 |
| 13 | David Beckmann |
 Charouz Racing System |
21 | 17.200 | 17.200 |
| 14 |  Ralph Boschung |
 Campos Racing |
21 | 19.300 | 19.300 |
| 15 | Matteo Nannini |
Campos Racing |
21 | 20.100 | 20.100 |
| 16 | Bent Viscaal |
Trident |
21 | 21.000 | 21.000 |
| 17 | Jack Aitken |
HWA Racelab | 21 | 22.600 | 22.600 |
| 18 |  Marino Sato |
Trident |
17 | 4 laps | |
| 19 | Guilherme Samaia |
Charouz Racing System |
11 | 10 laps | |
| 20 | Alessio Deledda |
HWA Racelab | 3 | 18 laps | |
| 21 |  Roy Nissany |
DAMS |
0 | ||
| 22 |  Guanyu Zhou |
UNI-Virtuosi |
0 | ||
| View full results | |||||
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