Oscar Piastri is one step closer to the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship title after a commanding victory in the championship’s feature race in Monza. 
 
After securing pole on Friday, the 20-year-old showed plenty of maturity during the final race of the weekend to lead the field for the majority of the race. 

It didn’t come easy for the Victorian though, who survived multiple safety car periods to defend his spot against title rival Guanyu Zhou and Prema Racing teammate Robert Shwartzman, before grabbing his second win of the 2021 season. 


 
Heading into the fifth round in Italy, just five points separated the two Alpine Academy drivers at the top of the standings, with Piastri’s pole position extending the gap to nine points. 

Zhou reduced the deficit after the weekend’s first sprint race finishing on the podium, while Piastri finished fourth. But the Australian then struck back in the round’s second race to finish one place higher in P7, along with the fastest lap bonus point.  
 
Piastri then held his nerve in the final feature race of the weekend to pick up an important win and extend the gap to 15 points with three rounds to go.  

“I couldn’t be happier. It was a very tricky race with a few Safety Cars. I had a lock-up at the end that nearly undone all of my hard work, but we held on, and our pace was really good besides that," Piastri said post-victory.

“A big thank you to the team. We made some good improvements from yesterday and our pace was really strong. It feels awesome. It’s another box ticked off in my rookie year, so I am very happy.

"Leading the championship is good, extending the lead is even better! I really wanted to get a Feature Race win on the board, that was the one thing I was missing this year so far.

"I like to think I'm ticking a few boxes."
 
The FIA Formula 2 Championship heads to Sochi for its next round at the Russian Grand Prix on 25-26 September.