Ollie Bearman won the Monza Feature Race despite having to deal with several Safety Car restarts during a fragmented contest.
The Prema driver took the lead on the opening lap, using a strong start to gain momentum and pass the pole sitter Théo Pourchaire for the race lead – which he would hold until the chequered flag.
However, the rest of the race was far from simple, as multiple Safety Car periods disrupted Bearman’s rhythm throughout the day.
He said: “Every safety car you have on this track is always a question mark when you’re leading; it’s the last thing you want.
“You can see the screens for the spectators, and whenever there was a car off I was just praying that they managed to get back on.”
Despite those Safety Car periods, the young Brit looked comfortable throughout, nailing each restart by putting the power down in the final corner, keeping his rivals at arm’s length.
He said: “I just wanted to make sure the others had the dirty air through the Parabolica and I could have the clean air. It seemed to work every time, and we managed it really well, and had really good pace.”
That good pace is something Bearman has had at several points this year, as he’s taken four wins so far this season, but has sometimes struggled for consistency and not taken as many podiums as he might have wanted.
He said: “It’s been a progression throughout the season, I’ve learned a lot as a driver, I’m so much better than I was back in Bahrain. It’s always a continued effort and no doubt I can fight for the Championship [next year]”
The Ferrari Driver Academy junior is currently sixth in the Championship, just one point behind Victor Martins, with the pair emerging as the two standout rookie drivers this season.
Image: Formula Motorsport Limited
