Enzo Fittipaldi wins chaotic Virtual GP for Haas

Virtual GP

Enzo Fittipaldi wins chaotic Virtual GP for Haas

Penalties were, as ever, commonplace in the Virtual Austrian Grand Prix

Sam Hall

Sunday 31 January 2021 20:36

Enzo Fittipaldi has taken victory for Haas in the first race of the 2021 Virtual Grand Prix championship.

Fittipaldi and his older brother, Pietro Fittipaldi, both raced for Haas in the Virtual Austrian Grand Prix, the first race in a three-race series.

The younger of the two Fittipaldi's was involved in a close-fought battle with Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari, in the second half of the race as all but one of the 18 drivers competing received at least one time penalty - F3 driver Oscar Piastri the only driver to avoid a penalty for Alpine.

Article continues under video

Williams drivers Nicholas Latifi and George Russell were the only two current Formula 1 drivers due to take part in the Austrian Virtual Grand Prix but at the last minute, it was announced Russell was no longer able to compete.

Red Bull reserve driver Alex Albon was joined by his Mercedes counterpart Stoffel Vandoorne on the grid.

In the pro driver sprint race that set the grid for the 'feature race', Ferrari secured positions one and three with Ferrari Driver Academy product Marcus Armstrong on pole as a result with Leclerc, the younger brother of Charles, third.

On the first lap, Anthony Davidson made a do or die move on Armstrong for the lead which failed to produce the desired result. Dropping several positions, Davidson then spun wildly at turn four and his Mercedes fell to the very back of the order.

Having started well down the order, Enzo Fittipaldi and older brother Pietro took advantage of the early chaos to place their Haas cars third and fourth after just six laps.

During the pit stop phase, on lap 16, former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi was disqualified for receiving too many penalties. The Italian was racing for AlphaTauri.

Also in this period, Enzo Fittipaldi found himself between the two Ferrari drivers and he took the lead in controversial fashion on lap 28, bumping Leclerc off the track at turn threw and taking full advantage.

Behind the lead pair, Vandoorne climbed into the podium places for Mercedes and, when Leclerc picked up a second three-second penalty, was promoted to second.

Alex Albon finished fourth for Red Bull, the Thai-British driver having a quiet evening, with Marcus Armstrong fifth and Pietro Fittipaldi sixth.

For Alfa Romeo, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois finished 13th and set the fastest lap of the race.