The 2024 British Grand Prix at Silverstone had more than its fair share of drama, and the temperamental British weather certainly played its part. After a fantastic run of seven podiums in the previous seven rounds, Hitech’s Formula 2 championship challenge took a knock in a weekend that just seemed destined not to go our way.
Despite the inclement conditions for Friday morning’s Practice, Paul Aron and Amaury Cordeel got the weekend off to a positive start, focusing on their set-up and acclimatisation programme in both wet and drying conditions to prepare for whatever the changeable forecast may bring.
Sure enough, Qualifying took place on a dry track but with the threat of rain hanging over the session, drivers were out immediately on the Soft compound tyres to get an early lap on the board. Paul popped in a couple of strong flying laps to go P2 before finding more time to go fastest. Getting his first lap on the second set underway, he suffered a spin at Turn 1, leaving him with major flatspots as everyone else improved. He dropped to 12th and Amaury was 18th, leaving the pair at a major disadvantage for both the Sprint and the Feature Race.
Saturday’s 21-lap Sprint provided the first wet race of the Formula 2 season, which began under the first of several Safety Car appearances. Paul staged a comeback once the track went green, determined to capture even a handful of points, but a coming-together with Marti brought a premature end to his race and his first DNF of an otherwise stellar season. Amaury finished in 15th position.
All hopes rested on Sunday’s Feature Race and the need to embrace the tyre gamble presented by the unpredictable weather. The Safety Car was out almost immediately and when racing resumed on Lap 3, Paul was in a heated battle with Joshua Duerksen. The AIX Racing driver got onto the grass that left him spinning into the gravel, but he tagged Paul’s right rear en route. The Estonian was left with a puncture and was forced to pit at the end of the lap, while Duerksen was stuck in the gravel and out of the race. Paul staged a valiant comeback posting personal best lap after lap but he was later handed a 10-second time penalty for the collision which he served during his late-stage mandatory stop, staying out in the hope that the race may develop in his favour.
Both drivers ended the Feature outside of the points-paying positions, Paul having to concede the championship lead to his nearest rival. He now sits in second place in the drivers’ standings, with a 16-point margin to surmount heading into Round 9 of the 14-event calendar. But the drivers and the team will aim to do exactly that, and regain the consistency and momentum that has been so evident in the first half of the season.
Sprint Race Result – Saturday
Amaury Cordeel – P15
Paul Aron – DNF
Feature Race Result – Sunday
Paul Aron – P12
Amaury Cordeel – P15
Up next, Round 9 of the campaign takes the Formula 2 grid to Budapest’s Hungaroring (19-21 July)
