Hadjar took the second victory of his F2 profession with a dominant drive at Albert Park as he skilfully navigated two security automotive restarts to win by over six seconds.
However the outcome carries a major asterisk, with the stewards set to analyze a start-line incident that resulted in Pepe Marti and Gabriel Bortoleto retiring after solely travelling a matter of metres.
Unaware of the fast-starting Marti to his proper, Hadjar veered throughout the observe and prompted contact between the Campos driver and second-placed starter Bortoleto, with the pair making heavy contact with the wall.
For Marti, this was his second opening-lap retirement in succession following a collision within the Saudi Arabian function race. This newest incident can be investigated after the race.
Having crushed polesitter Roman Staněk into Flip 1, Hadjar headed the sector through the five-lap security automotive interval to permit for the clear-up operation.
Different early movers included championship chief Zane Maloney, who progressed from sixth to fourth on account of the 2 retirements forward, whereas Victor Martins – who prompted a crimson flag in qualifying and didn’t set a time – leapt from twenty first to thirteenth.
Zane Maloney, Rodin Motorsport
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
For Maloney, this progress was undone on the restart as a snap of oversteer and an off-track second at Flip 6 meant he was swamped on the again straight, dropping to tenth.
Whereas Hadjar established a 6s lead, the battle for second reached boiling level on lap 10 as three drivers discovered themselves off within the gravel at Flip 12.
The catalyst was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who misplaced the rear of his Prema-run automotive earlier than Richard Verschoor spun in sympathy and made contact with Paul Aron. Solely Hitech driver Aron was capable of proceed as the protection automotive once more bunched the sector.
After one other 4 laps of neutralised working, the racing resumed with Hadjar once more flying off into the space as Aron fired himself throughout the Flip 1 gravel and the DAMS pair of Jak Crawford and Juan Manuel Correa bought too shut for consolation – Crawford reporting, “Juan went into the facet of me.”
A 3rd security automotive interval was narrowly prevented when Joshua Dürksen spun into the gravel after tangling with Oliver Bearman – this one other incident that can be investigated after the chequered flag, placing in danger Bearman’s first level of the season.
With Hadjar cruising to a cushty win, Staněk was capable of cling onto second after going through strain from Kush Maini and latterly, Dennis Hauger.
Ruing his qualifying error can be ART driver Martins, who completed seventh however will as soon as once more begin from the again in Sunday’s function race.