Ralph Boschung scored a career-best 22 points in the FIA Formula 2 Championship round at Monaco, finishing in the top six in all three races on the streets of Monte-Carlo.
Ralph qualified in a personal best sixth place, despite receiving damage while rounding up a slower car, putting him fifth on the grid for Friday’s reverse grid Sprint Race 1. Due to the tight nature of the circuit, F2 uses a unique qualifying format, sending cars out in two groups. Third fastest in Group B saw Ralph line up on row three for the Feature Race. After a clean start, he crossed the line for a best-ever finish of fourth, yielding eight points and beginning the weekend in strong fashion.
Starting seventh in a wet Sprint Race 2 as the top ten finishers from Sprint Race 1 were reversed, Ralph again stayed out of trouble at the start. Carrying his wet tyres throughout and running on worn out rubber by the chequered flag, Ralph overcame the challenging conditions and pressure from behind to hold on to fifth.
Later that day, Ralph completed a great weekend by finishing in his starting position of sixth in the Feature Race. He put championship leader Guanyu Zhou under pressure towards the end of the race, but the infamous challenge of overtaking in Monaco made it impossible to get through. Nevertheless, he claimed eight more points for a career-best weekend in the series.
Ralph Boschung: “I was in a very strong group in qualifying so we were aware it wasn’t going to be easy, but the pace was there from the first lap in practice. I still think we could’ve gone quicker in that group without the damage.
“In Sprint Race 1 I had a chance to get on the podium and after the Safety Car I was battling with Nissany for third. I put him under pressure but didn’t want to risk it too much as I was on for my best result in F2, so I didn’t go for a silly move. I was really happy with the pace and we got a good haul of points. The rain made Sprint Race 2 a bit more difficult. The track was drying but we decided to stay out and it became a survival race, because my tyres were completely gone. I think this was one of my best races in F2 because every corner I was sliding and getting close to the wall. In the Feature Race we pitted early and we were battling with other drivers throughout. I almost managed to overtake Guanyu Zhou when he exited the pits, we were side by side at Sainte Devote. I tried going round the outside but it was too big of a risk. In the end we took sixth, it’s my best F2 weekend so far.
“I want to thank the team and my partners for giving me the stability to focus on the driving for the first time in my career, I’m looking forward to Baku in two weeks and another street circuit. It’s different to Monaco with its long straights but you need a similar driving style. I really enjoy Baku, it’s an awesome track to race and I had some good results there in the past so hopefully we can have another strong weekend.”
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