Nyck de Vries crowned F2 champion in Sochi

Formula 2

De Vries crowned F2 champion in Sochi

But F1 does not beckon.

Matthew Scott

Saturday 28 September 2019 17:20

Nyck de Vries was crowned 2019 Formula 2 champion with victory in Saturday's sprint race in Sochi.

The Dutchman will become the first second-tier champion not to immediately graduate to F1 next year, having signed a deal with Mercedes to race in Formula E alongside Stoffel Vandoorne, himself a former title-winner at this level.

Although the four drivers immediately below De Vries in the standings all entered the penultimate round of the season with a mathematical chance of winning, the Dutchman moved closer to the brink by securing pole position on Friday and adding four points to his tally.

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And he controlled the race superbly from there, showing an adeptness in handling the tyres, which has often proved his downfall.

Closest rival Nicholas Latifi could not get close enough to challenge De Vries, but came home in second place.

Louis Deletraz snatched third from Luca Ghiotto on the last lap as the Italian's supersoft tyres dramatically fell off.

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