Drugovich clinches F2 title at Monza despite retirement: 'The dream has become truth'

Despite an early collision in Monza, Felipe Drugovich clinched the F2 title after Theo Pourchaire's non-score

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Drugovich was crowned after today's sprint race

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Felipe Drugovich was crowned the 2022 Formula 2 champion after today’s Monza sprint race, despite retiring on the first lap.

The Brazilian said “the dream has become truth” after being confirmed as the title winner.

After starting 12th, the MP Motor Sport driver was exiting the Della Roggia chicane when he came into contact with Amaury Cordeel, terminally damaging his F2 machine.

Drugovich’s main title rival, Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire, was attempting to charge through the field in pursuit of the fifth or sixth plus fastest lap which he needed to keep his championship hopes alive, but went off at the first chicane during the race, relegating him to last pace.

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Insult was added to injury when the Frenchman was given a 5sec penalty for causing a collision.

Drugovich’s season has been characterised by consistency and control. After a flurry of early wins, the Brazilian put together a string of top five finishes to keep ahead of his title rivals.

A win at Zandvoort last week, combined with a poor weekend for Pourchaire, meant Drugovich had one hand on the championship heading into the penultimate round.

The MP man duly took the title after Pourchaire’s non-score today, the first Brazilian F2 champion since Bruno Junqueira in 2000.

“I really have no words for this,” he said immediately after the race.

“When you start as a young driver you dream of F1, but when you focus on an F2 title, this becomes a dream and today became a truth.

“I’m just actually happy for the opportunity. We were really trying to be consistent this year to really have the pace in a race, and we managed to do that.”

Little relative F1 interest has appeared to be shown in Drugovich despite his strong season, though he has been linked to both the Alpine race seat and an Aston martin reserve role.