Melbourne Sprint Race winner Joshua Dürksen says he hadn’t thought about victory ahead of the first FIA Formula 2 race of the season in Australia.
The Paraguayan, who won the final race of 2024, hailed the win as the ‘perfect’ way to kick off the new season.
DUERKSEN TAKES THE LEAD FROM THE START!!!https://t.co/qLgyAl7LUL#F2 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/0Tan1fS8CN
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 15, 2025
The 21-year-old grabbed the lead from second place on the grid and expertly managed his way through two safety car restarts to reach the chequered flag first.
Dürksen said: “Starting the season with a victory [is] a really great feeling.
“Winning in Australia is something I didn’t think about coming into the weekend. I knew I would be in the front, I would be on a good pace, but it didn’t come into my mind that I would win the first race.
“Then, of course starting P2 today I was thinking, this is possible, let’s do it!”
Empezando el 2025 como terminamos el 2024!! P1 ??? Gracias a todos los que confian, vamos a seguir buscando estos resultados!! Falta mucho, vamos nosotros gracias equipo @AIX_Racing !! ??
Starting 2025 like we ended 2024!! P1 ??? Thanks to all those who trust, we will continue… pic.twitter.com/E1ecaeohhJ
— Joshua Duerksen ?? (@JoshuaDuerksen1) March 15, 2025
He added that everything was “under control” during the first safety car restart, but that there was a bit more pressure the second time around.
“I knew Leo would know my strategy, but it was all fine” he said.
Dürksen said he was frustrated at the second safety car, but was pleased with his execution from the second restart.
He said: “I was like, ‘Ah, no, I don’t need this because I had a good gap’.
“I was feeling comfortable and then with the Safety Car, of course, everybody has to close again.
“But anyway, I managed to make a good restart, and then just have the tyres and temperature and was then just able to make clean laps. And I think this has helped me to get to victory.”
The best way to finish last year – and the best way to start this year ?
Another #F2 victory in the books for Duerksen ?#AusGP pic.twitter.com/ZSX6LFegFh
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 15, 2025
The Paraguayan believes he and AIX team can have a ‘great’ season together.
He will start Sunday’s Feature Race from seventh, rising two positions from where he qualified, thanks to 10-place grid penalties for DAMS Lucas Oil’s Jak Crawford and Rodin Motorsport’s Alexander Dunne.
Image: FML
