- Swede takes up Formula 1 free practice slot for second consecutive event
- Round 6 of FIA Formula 2 Championship coming up in Styrian Alps
Dino Beganovic will take up Free Practice 1 duties in Formula 1 for a second consecutive event, returning to Scuderia Ferrari’s SF-26 at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Just two weeks after replacing Lewis Hamilton in the opening practice session of the latest Grand Prix in Barcelona, Beganovic will slot into Charles Leclerc’s car this time around on Friday in Spielberg.
The opportunity marks the first time that Beganovic has run in FP1 at consecutive events. It will also be the first occurrence of the Swede reappearing in F1 practice sessions at the same Grand Prix, having also replaced Leclerc last year in Austria.
“Being back in the SF-26 in Spielberg is another great opportunity for me to learn more about Formula 1 and the highest level of racing,” says Dino Beganovic, a long-time member of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. “It will be a nice first to run in consecutive events, with everything fresh in mind after Barcelona.
“I absolutely loved the experience last year in Austria and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do it once again this weekend.”
Just like in Barcelona, Beganovic’s FP1 outing will mark the middle phase of a busy Friday programme, bookended by two Formula 2 sessions with practice in the morning and qualifying in late afternoon.
“It’s going to be the same as Barcelona, so we take the lessons from there and apply them this weekend to try and do an even better job on Friday especially,” says Dino Beganovic. “We’ve made some changes to our approach and preparations for this weekend, just to make the transition back to F2 qualifying a bit smoother.”
“Spielberg is a track that lends itself well to racing, with plenty of overtaking opportunities, so I think this is the kind of weekend where tyre management and strategy could play a big part as well.”
Beganovic enters the weekend sitting sixth in the Formula 2 standings, looking to add to his tally of two podiums so far this year in Saturday’s Sprint Race and Sunday’s Feature Race.
TIME TABLE
FIA Formula 2 Championship
Rd. 6 – Spielberg (AUT)
All times local (CEST)
Friday June 26
Free Practice: 11.05-11.50
Free Practice – F1: 13.30-14.30
Qualifying: 15.55-16.25
Saturday June 27
Sprint Race (28 laps): 14.15-15.00
Sunday June 28
Feature Race (40 laps): 10.10-11.10
LIVE TIMING / RESULTS
www.fiaformula2.com
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
After 5/14 rounds
1: G. Minì (ITA), MP Motorsport, 86 p.
2: N. Tsolov (BUL), Campos Racing, 80 p.
3: R. Câmara (BRA), Invicta Racing, 69 p.
4: A. Dunne (IRE), Rodin Motorsport, 67 p.
5: N. Léon (MEX), Campos Racing, 54 p.
—
6: D. Beganovic (SWE), DAMS Lucas Oil, 53 p.
