Prema Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi took a surprise victory in the GP2 feature race at Monza after starting from 21st in the grid.
The Italian was excluded from qualifying for incorrect tyre pressures, having set the second fastest time in the session.
He started on the medium tyre from 21st on the grid and made steady progress in the early stages, staying out when those on the softs pitted prior to the half-way mark.
Giovinazzi found himself running in third place behind Raffaele Marciello and Gustav Malja when they pitted for the softer tyre compound just after the deployment of the safety car.
The race was briefly paused due to a crash between Arthur Pic and Sergio Canamasas, which resulted in the Carlin of Canamasas flipping over at the second Lesmo.
The well-timed pitstop advanced Marciello, Malja and Giovinazzi to the top three positions, displacing early leader and Giovinazzi’s team-mate Pierre Gasly.
However the safety car was out for longer than expected after it picked up Gasly, resulting in the majority of the field having to pass it and catch back up to the pack.
When the race resumed, it was a sprint to the flag, with Giovinazzi quickly displacing Malja and then passing Marciello on the final lap with the help of DRS.
He went on to win his fourth race of the season, finishing ahead of countryman Marciello and Rapax driver Malja, who completed the podium.
Gasly lined up on pole position but lost out in the pitstops and with the safety car, having to settle for fourth after a run to the flag for third.
Norman Nato enjoyed a feisty start to the race and made some strong moves, eventually finishing fifth. Luca Ghiotto was next up, ahead of Jordan King and Mitch Evans, who had a poor start.
Oliver Rowland and Artem Markelov, who suffered a messy race and cut several chicanes, completed the points. Markelov even made light contact with Gasly at the first corner after locing up on lap one.
