P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 2 Championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto is half a point ahead of Isack Hadjar heading into this weekend’s title decider in Abu Dhabi.
Bortoleto initially led the closing laps of the Feature race in Qatar but received a five-second timed penalty for crossing the pit entry line, dropping him to third place behind his title rival Hadjar. Paul Aron claimed the win, injecting hope into his championship fight, which is primarily between Hadjar and Bortoleto. Hadjar boasts four wins this season compared to Bortoleto’s two victories, with Hadjar winning at Melbourne, Imola, Silverstone, and Spa. Despite Hadjar’s 36-point lead after his victory in Belgium, Bortoleto narrowed the gap and took the championship lead heading into Qatar due to his outstanding performance at the Italian Grand Prix. Bortoleto, set to race in F1 next year with Sauber, remains determined to fight for the championship against Hadjar, emphasizing that his approach would have been the same even without his future in F1 secured. Hadjar, who trails Bortoleto by only half a point, remains unfazed and focused on enjoying the final race of the season, aiming to finish ahead of his rival.
