Belgian-based
Dutchman Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing), also won the third
FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship race at the demanding 7.004
kilometres long track of Spa-Francorchamps. The 16-year-old prevailed
in the duel against Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam), and demoted the
Lotus F1 junior driver to second place. Gustavo Menezes, (Van
Amersfoort Racing), ended up third after beating Felix Serralles,
(Team West-Tec F3), in a tight duel. Serralles scored the best result
to date for his team in its first season in the series. Thanks to his
triple victory, Verstappen moved up to third in the drivers’
standings, equal on points with Austrian Lucas Auer, (Mücke
Motorsport). Frenchman Esteban Ocon extended his lead in the
championship standings to an advantage of 94 points from runner-up
Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin).
The third
FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship race at the Belgian Fórmula 1
track again was good for entertaining position fights and overtaking
manoeuvres. At the start, Esteban Ocon took the lead from pole
position, but John Bryant-Meisner, (Fortec Motorsports), overtook him
on the opening lap. Ocon countered a few metres later and restored
the former order still before the first lap was completed. On lap
two, Max Verstappen attacked the Frenchman and overtook him for the
lead. After a battle over many laps, the Dutchman eventually drove
victory home.
Not only
the fight for the lead between Verstappen and Ocon, but also the
battle for third could hardly have been more exciting. Gustavo
Menezes and Felix Serralles swapped positions several times;
eventually, Menezes scored his second FIA Fórmula 3 European
Championship podium finish. Due to a safety car intervention
following a spin by Hector Hurst, (Team West-Tec F3), who had been
involved in a collision with Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with
Carlin), Nicholas Latifi, (Prema Powerteam), and Tom Blomqvist,
(Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), were also able to take part in the battle
for third. Behind Serralles, Latifi took the chequered flag in fifth
place, Blomqvist finished sixth. Jake Dennis, (Carlin), Jules
Szymkowiak, (Van Amersfoort Racing), Felix Rosenqvist, (Mücke
Motorsport) and Jordan King, (Carlin), rounded out the top ten.
Max
Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “My start was okay and I was
third after the first corner. After a few good battles, I managed to
take the lead one lap later and I held on to it until the finish. To
be honest, I hadn’t thought that I could move up from third to
first place straight away. All in all, it has been a fantastic
weekend for me”.
Esteban
Ocon, (Prema Powerteam): “The race wasn’t easy. I was first in
the first corner but then Max overtook me. After that, I didn’t
want to take too many risks and rather settle for the points for
second place. This weekend wasn’t one of my best, but I still
scored some points and I am still in the lead of the drivers’
standings”.
Gustavo
Menezes, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “The race was great, but it was
difficult, too. I had a great and fair battle with Félix Serrallés
and I came out on top. Prior to the safety car intervention, I had
already pulled a slight gap, but then, he closed up again and he was
able to overtake me after the restart. I knew that I had one more
chance on the final lap and I took it. Two podium finishes in a
weekend are a great result”.
Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series
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