Bearman wins third sprint race of F2 season in Qatar as Hadjar falters

Oliver Bearman won his third sprint race of the 2024 Formula 2 season in Qatar, defeating Isack Hadjar in a strategic battle. Bearman started on pole with hard tires, while Hadjar used medium tires but struggled as they wore out. Hadjar initially led but lost his position to Bearman with three laps remaining after a late braking maneuver. Hadjar then spun out, finishing fourth, while Jak Crawford and Richard Verschoor moved up to take podium spots. Hadjar's performance allowed him to close the points gap to championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, now just 2.5 points behind. However, Hadjar will start ninth in the upcoming feature race, while Bortoleto will start on the front row.