Dino Beganovic produced a commanding and clinical performance to lead home teammate Luke Browning in a stunning one-two finish for Hitech TGR during the F2 Sprint Race at the 2025 Azerbaijan GP, much to the delight of team boss Clive Hatton. The result marked one of the most significant highlights of the season so far for the British outfit and demonstrated the potential both drivers possess as the championship enters its final stages.
Starting from second on the grid, Beganovic reacted sharply off the line and launched into the lead at Turn 1, executing a perfect overtake to seize control of the race. From that point forward, the Swede managed the pace expertly. Despite the appearance of the Safety Car on two occasions, he held his nerve, nailed both restarts, and pulled away each time, eventually crossing the line 6.2 seconds clear of the field.
Meanwhile, Browning delivered one of the drives of the day. Starting sixth, the Briton remained composed in the chaotic midfield and showed his racecraft with late overtakes on Alexander Dunne and Sebastián Montoya to claim second place, securing an emphatic 1-2 finish for Hitech.
Hitech overjoyed with Sprint Race success
In the immediate aftermath of the race, Hitech TGR’s Deputy Team Principal Clive Hatton shared the team’s reaction to their first one-two of the season. The atmosphere in the garage reflected the magnitude of the achievement, with mechanics, engineers and team leadership celebrating a job well done.
Hatton expressed the team’s satisfaction with their performance and acknowledged the hard work behind the scenes that made it possible.
“The team is over the moon,” said Hatton, after the Baku Sprint Race. “Everyone is delighted, everyone has worked hard for this between the team and the drivers, and to get a one-two in the Sprint Race, you cannot really ask for more.”
He also took a moment to highlight Beganovic’s efforts in the lead-up to the weekend. The Swede had faced several challenges earlier in the season but continued to put in the work behind the scenes, particularly in simulator sessions.
“Dino has not had the easiest time up until now. He works hard and does a lot of simulator, so he deserves it.”
Perfect execution under pressure
As the race unfolded, Beganovic demonstrated complete composure in the lead. From the moment he took control at the start, he dictated the pace and handled both restarts with precision. His ability to respond quickly and break DRS range each time ensured that he stayed clear of any serious threat.
Hatton praised Beganovic’s race management and pointed to his flawless handling of key moments as the foundation of his win.
“Dino had the race under control and in hand from the start once he got ahead at Turn 1. He just controlled it from there between managing the gaps to his Safety Car restarts,” said Hatton. “He did those flawlessly, and he was able to pull a gap after each restart and got outside of DRS to the guys behind.”
Browning also earned recognition for his efforts. He survived an eventful opening lap and kept pushing, even as he temporarily lost ground. His fighting spirit and strategic overtaking moves helped him climb back into contention.
“Luke did a great job as well. He avoided one or two collisions into Turn 1. It wasn’t easy, got overtaken a few times, but he did some overtakes as well, so he held on in there.”
Weather threat and track conditions add challenge
The Sprint Race challenged more than just driver skill and car performance. Conditions around the Baku City Circuit shifted throughout the 21-lap event, with changing winds and the threat of rain adding an extra dimension to race strategy and execution.
According to Hatton, Hitech worked closely with their drivers throughout the race to ensure they stayed alert to evolving track conditions. Communication from the pit wall proved crucial, particularly as light rain briefly made sections of the circuit slippery.
“I think the drivers knew going into the race it was not going to be easy,” Hatton explained. “Between the wind and the chance of rain it was going to continuously change. It was important to remind them throughout the race that they don’t get complacent.”
He also described how Hitech responded to changing grip levels during the race, particularly after reports from Browning on the car’s handling in marginal conditions.
“The conditions were a changing factor, so to watch out for that, and there were a few drops. Luke reported that the track and lines were starting to get slippery, but it dried up towards the end.”
Browning closes championship gap, Hitech eyes Teams’ title
Browning’s second-place finish in the F2 Sprint Race at the 2025 Azerbaijan GP proved valuable in the 2025 F2 Drivers’ Championship fight. With Leonardo Fornaroli finishing lower in the order, Browning closed the gap from 21 points to just 17. At the same time, Hitech’s perfect team result meant they made progress in the Teams’ Championship battle, reducing the gap to current leaders Invicta Racing to 17 points ahead of the Feature Race.
When asked about the bigger picture, Hatton welcomed the improvement in both standings but urged his team to stay grounded and focused on the challenge ahead.
“I am definitely pleased,” said Hatton. “But I always say let’s keep calm, let’s focus on the race tomorrow and see what way it plays out. Once it comes to the Feature Race, a lot more can happen, especially when pitstops are involved.”
A mixed Sunday
Although Saturday’s Sprint Race gave Hitech TGR momentum, the team entered Sunday’s Feature Race with a more measured approach. Hatton had already signalled the importance of caution, given the added variables that longer races typically bring — including tyre degradation, pit stop strategy and weather changes.
He outlined how the team planned to prepare overnight and what key areas they intended to analyse ahead of race day.
“Probably the most important thing here is to stay out of trouble but after that, the engineers will look into it this evening, see what the tyre deg was like to give us a better idea for tomorrow of the pitstop window. But also the wind might have settled down I think for tomorrow and we will see what the weather is like tomorrow,” Hatton explained.
That caution ultimately paid off for Dino Beganovic, who secured a strong third-place finish, earning his fourth podium of the season and rounding off a solid weekend in Baku. However, it was a more difficult Sunday for Luke Browning, who struggled in the Feature Race and crossed the line in P19, losing valuable ground in the title fight.
Title battles intensify after Baku
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Azerbaijan F2 Round, the championship standings saw a reshuffle. Browning now sits third in the Drivers’ standings with 161 points, trailing leader Leonardo Fornaroli by 27 points. Jak Crawford moved into second on 170 after taking victory in Sunday’s Feature Race, pushing Browning a further step back in the title fight.
Crawford's climbing 🧗
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 21, 2025
How the Driver Standings shape up as we head out of Baku 👀👇#F2 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/GFcPqQlyU1
Nevertheless, Hitech found some consolation in the Teams’ Championship, where they further reduced the gap to leaders Invicta Racing to just 12 points, keeping the title fight very much alive heading into the final rounds.
Crawford's climbing 🧗
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 21, 2025
How the Driver Standings shape up as we head out of Baku 👀👇#F2 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/GFcPqQlyU1
A powerful statement ahead of the final two rounds
Hitech TGR’s performances in Baku sent a powerful message to the rest of the field. The team executed a near-perfect weekend, combining strong racecraft, technical efficiency, and adaptive strategy under pressure. From Dino Beganovic’s faultless Sprint Race win and Feature Race podium to Luke Browning’s calculated recovery drive on Saturday, Hitech demonstrated that they remain a serious force in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.
Although Sunday brought mixed fortunes, the team still emerged with a valuable haul of points and a much tighter grip on the title battles. Beganovic’s upward momentum has reignited his campaign, while Browning, despite his tough Feature Race, remains within striking distance if he can return to form in the final rounds.
Moreover, the reduced gap to Invicta Racing in the Teams’ standings underlines just how finely poised this season remains. With only two rounds left, every point, every decision, and every lap will count. The closing stages of the 2025 Formula 2 season now promise drama, unpredictability, and a fierce contest for silverware.
Hitech TGR leave Baku knowing they have the pace, the package, and the belief to fight for both championships.
