Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc has claimed the 2017 Formula 2 title after winning the opening race at the penultimate round of the season at Jerez.
Having built up a comfortable lead over the field after a good start from his eighth pole position of the year -- a record-breaking achievement in F2 and its predecessor GP2 -- a Safety Car period cut Leclerc's advantage, but he held off championship rival Oliver Rowland to take victory by 0.2s.
The win, Leclerc's sixth of 2017, reflected the Prema driver's dominance over his rivals as he wrapped up the title with a round to spare.