Jehan Daruvala pushed race winner, Liam Lawson, until the final corner to finish a tantalisingly close P2 in the first Sprint Race of the season.

Daruvala was asked by insideF2 at the post-race press conference if settling for second place was a better option than a risky push for the top step of the podium.

“I was trying to win pretty much until the last corner. I was pushing and trying to manage my tyres as well as I could. I knew his tyres were on the limit as well and it’s super easy to make a mistake at any point. So, I wanted to keep him on his toes.”

The Indian driver gave an insight into his thought process during the race of what the Hitech driver’s lap times were and where he himself was gaining an advantage.

“I think I had better pace in the middle of the race than he [Lawson] did but the last five or six laps it seemed pretty similar. I couldn’t get anymore traction than what he had out of Turn 1.”

Once Daruvala caught Lawson, he had to change tactic due to his own tyre wear becoming a factor. His focus was to pressurise the rookie, with a view of forcing him into an error.

“I started struggling in Sector 3, so I knew that if he didn’t make a mistake it would be harder to overtake him so I just tried to put as much pressure as I could.”

The external heat combined with being in close proximity of another car caused Daruvala’s turbo temperatures to rise. A heat haze could be seen radiating from the rear of the Carlin.

This, nor a team radio warning, would stop the determined Indian from pushing until the last corner.

Daruvala knew he did all he could and was gracious in defeat.

“In the end he just didn’t make any mistakes and deserves to win the race.”

Image Credit: James Gasperotti