Formula 2: Dino Beganovic dominates in Baku following an incident-ridden sprint race

Written by Jasmin Low

The Baku City Street Circuit poses a high-speed challenge, setting the stage for an eventful Formula 2 Sprint Race. After managing two safety car restarts, Hitech’s Dino Beganovic made history for Sweden, taking a dominant maiden victory.

Dino Beganovic led a 1-2 finish for Hitech in Baku | Credit: Formula 2 via X

After qualifying tenth on Friday, Van Amersfoort’s Rafael Villagómez earned reverse-grid pole, joined on the front row by Hitech’s Dino Beganovic. Sebastián Montoya occupied third on the grid for PREMA Racing, whilst newcomer Martinius Stenshorne made a splash during his debut F2 qualifying, lining up in fourth for Trident. 

As it Happened 

In a heartbreaking moment for Villagómez, the Mexican driver was swallowed up by his competitors and sent into a spin by Pepe Martí into Turn 1, forcing both cars to retire. Beganovic assumed his place now first on the road whilst Montoya got off to a flying start, coming close to the race lead. It was an unlucky day to be a Red Bull junior, as Oliver Goethe also found himself out of the race by the end of Lap 1. Arvid Lindblad was caught up in the same incident, leaving the Briton to fight his way up from dead last. 

The safety car led the field through the pit lane as the stranded cars were recovered, whittling down the racing laps available for the remaining cars to scrap for vital points. Beganovic was left to set the pace during the restart, taking the field across the line heading into Lap 5. 

Almost immediately, the yellow flags were flying following an incident between Kush Maini and Amaury Cordeel, who managed to continue but dropped to 19th on the road. After sustaining damage to his Alpine-liveried DAMS, the Indian driver was forced to become the fourth retirement of the race. 

Beganovic broke free of the crucial 1-second gap to Montoya, whilst the Colombian faced pressure from Stenshorne, losing out to the Norwegian on Lap 7. The next lap, Stenshorne, who was set to take a podium on debut, slowed to a halt, combatting a technical issue and becoming retirement number 5. 

Stenshorne’s potential podium slipped away on Lap 8 | Credit: Formula 2 via X

Now over six seconds ahead of the remainder of the field, Beganovic’s advantage over the cars behind was reduced to nothing as a virtual safety car was turned into a full safety car on Lap 10. Heading into the twelfth tour of the circuit, the skies darkened and light rain was starting to fall over the circuit, just before racing resumed. 

Now navigating a slippery track surface, Beganovic maintained the lead ahead of Montoya whilst Alex Dunne overtook title contender Luke Browning for the final podium position. Sunday’s pole-sitter Jak Crawford went wheel-to-wheel with Gabriele Minì for fifth, but was unable to secure the position at the restart. 

With 7 laps remaining, Dunne lost third to Browning after locking up going wide through Turn 1 before almost losing another place to Minì. Victor Martins had a close call with the wall but managed to continue, before Minì, with the help of DRS moved up past Dunne’s Rodin Motorsport machine to take fourth. 

The fight between the Irishman and the Italian continued into the closing stages of the race, as Dunne reclaimed fourth before Crawford, who was on a late charge through the field, also managed to manoeuvre his way past Miní’s PREMA. 

Meanwhile, his teammate Montoya fell from second to fourteenth with fire spewing from the rear of his car, promoting Browning to second and Dunne to third. 

Fellow Italian Leonardo Fornaroli made a pass on Miní during the final lap, but slight contact with the wall left him under immense pressure. 

With a lead of over 6-seconds, Beganovic crossed the line to take his maiden F2 victory, followed by his teammate Browning in an impressive 1-2 finish for Hitech. Dunne crossed the line in third followed by Crawford, whilst Fornaroli managed to hold onto fifth.