Mercedes junior now 22 points ahead of Norris
Thursday 6 December 2018 10:49, UK
George Russell extended his championship lead with a superb victory in the F2 Sprint Race at the Italian GP.
The Mercedes reserve driver made a superb start to go from fifth to second and that is what set up his fifth victory of the season.
With title rival Lando Norris down in fifth place after a poor start left him having to fight back up the order, it means Russell extends his championship lead to 22 points with just two races in Sochi and two in Abu Dhabi remaining.
Nicholas Latifi was another to make a good start and the Canadian led the opening laps before being hunted down by a charging Artem Markelov, who went from seventh on the grid to the lead on lap six.
However, the Russian would out-brake himself at the first chicane on lap 11, giving Russell a run through Curva Grande, and the British driver took the lead at the second chicane.
Once Russell got out of DRS range, he was able to control the race from the front, winning by just over a second from Markelov.
Sergio Sette Camara completed the podium to round off a good recovery, having been forced to start from the pit lane on Saturday rather than the front row.
Latifi was fourth, just holding off Norris, with Luca Ghiotto, Dorian Boccolacci and Jack Aitken completing the points scorers.
