A debut Feature Race win for Frederik Vesti  at Round 2 of the FIA Formula 2 Championship catapulted him and his PREMA Racing team up the order.

Vesti was quick to praise his team who showed impressive pace in Saudi Arabia after a difficult 2022 for the Italian outfit.

The Danish driver had raced with PREMA in Formula 3, and returned to the team for this season after competing for ART Grand Prix last year.

He said: “I came back to PREMA to have a good team around me like I had back in F3.

“I have a really close bond with PREMA and they definitely get the best out of me – they give me what I need to succeed.”

The team dominated back in 2021, winning the Constructors’ title by over 150 points and took a one-two in the Drivers’ standings.

PREMA failed to repeat that form in 2022, finishing as the fourth fastest team, with neither driver breaking into the top five overall.

Their struggles continued at the opening round of 2023, as the team left Bahrain without a single point for their efforts.

PREMA seemed to turn a corner in Jeddah, as Ollie Bearman and Vesti qualified second and seventh respectively, and looked quick all weekend.

Bearman was unlucky to be taken out of the Sprint Race by Théo Pourchaire’s misjudgment, but bounced back in the Feature Race, snatching the lead from Victor Martins at the race start.

A spin from the race lead cost him a potential win and PREMA a lot of points, but Vesti was able to capitalise on his team mate’s mistake to move up to P2 having overtaken Jack Doohan at the pit stops and then took the lead moments later when Martins spun out in similar fashion.

The Mercedes junior driver had good pace throughout the race, and put himself into contention early on when he took two places on the opening lap. During the race, his team played a role in keeping him focused.

He said: “I was flat out all race, and my engineer was always pushing me, because you lose the rhythm if you don’t push, and then it’s easy to make mistakes.”

He will hope to continue his winning form when F2 goes racing again in Australia next month, for the championship’s first visit to the Albert Park circuit.

Image: Formula Motorsport Limited