Marcus Armstrong played the strategy game to a tee in the final Formula 2 race of the season, exploiting the grip yielded by the softer tyres on the run home to finish seventh.
It is Armstrong’s second-best feature race result of the year and a solid way to bow out to his sophomore campaign.
The Kiwi started 11th and, more importantly, on the slower medium tyres.
The strategy ensured Armstrong had the quicker rubber on the final stint when most other runners would be on the slower compound.
He came close to catching Dan Ticktum for sixth, but a late virtual safety car did little to aid Armstrong’s cause, and he settled for P7.
Overtaking Ticktum would have had Armstrong jump to 12th in the drivers’ standings. Instead, he ends the season 13th overall.
Liam Lawson’s rookie F2 season ended in stark contrast to how it started, winning the opening race back in March.
Lawson experienced a mechanical failure with a handful of laps in hand, forcing the Kiwi to retire. Otherwise, Lawson was on for another points finish.
He finishes his first season ninth overall.
The race was won by Oscar Piastri, who claimed the drivers’ title on Saturday.
As for 2022, we know Lawson is locked in for a second F2 season. While it hasn’t been ‘officially’ confirmed, Red Bull has already said that is his plan for next year.
Armstrong is yet to firm up his intentions for next year.
China’s Guanyu Zhou is the only driver in the 2021 F2 field graduating to Formula 1 next year.
He finished today’s race in second and he was third in the championship.