The 23rd
season round of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship provided
plenty of action for the spectators at the 4.326 kilometres long Red
Bull Ring. Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam), was able to decide the
race in his favour, although he never led the field for one moment.
For his second victory in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship
season, the rookie driver benefited from a 20 seconds’ time penalty
for Antonio Giovinazzi, who led throughout the race, due to an
infringement of the safety car procedure. Eventually, Fuoco won from
Tom Blomqvist and national hero Lucas Auer. For points’ leader
Esteban Ocon, things didn’t go according to plan either; the French
Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver collided with Felix Rosenqvist and
retired.
At the
start, Antonio Giovinazzi took the lead from Tom Blomqvist. On the
way to the first corner, the Brit had to slot in behind Antonio Fuoco
and dropped back to third. On lap three, Jordan King and Max
Verstappen collided, which ended with a spin by British driver King.
As a result, the safety car was deployed for the first time in this
race. Shortly after the restart, Dennis van de Laar spun, which
caused the second safety car intervention in this 23rd season round.
After the next restart, Esteban Ocon and Felix Rosenqvist tangled in
the battle for fourth place. Both drivers retired. On lap 16, Richard
Goddard spun after a collision with Roy Nissany and hit Sandro
Zeller’s car in the aftermath. For Goddard and Zeller, the race was
over.
Out in
front, Antonio Giovinazzi still held on to the lead, but at the final
restart of the race, he left a gap to the safety car that was too big
and was given a drive-through penalty as a result. As he didn’t
come in for this penalty during the remainder of the race, it was
converted into a 20 seconds’ time penalty. Thus, the Italian lost
his first place to compatriot Antonio Fuoco, who became the winner of
the race. Tom Blomqvist was delighted with his second-place finish,
Lucas Auer took the chequered flag in third place. Max Verstappen,
Gustavo Menezes, Edward Jones, Sean Gelael, Nicholas Latifi, Jules
Szymkowiak and Alexander Toril rounded out the top ten. For Spaniard
Toril, tenth place is his best result in the FIA Fórmula 3 European
Championship to date.
Antonio
Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam): “I anm really happy and proud of this
victory. After a good start, I was able to overtake Lucas Auer in the
first corner and I was even second after the second corner. However,
I had no chance against Antonio Giovinazzi, who was still in front of
me; he was simply too fast. My engineer told me over the radio about
the penalty for Giovinazzi, so I was aware that I had won as I
crossed the line”.
Tom
Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “I feel really sorry for my
team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi, because he was quick and would have
deserved this success. My start wasn’t perfect and when I was
between Lucas Auer and Antonio Fuoco in the second corner, Antonio
was able to overtake me. I was left without a chance”.
Lucas
Auer, (Mücke Motorsport): “My start was okay, but I lost a few
places in the first few corners. Then I was lucky that there were
some incidents in this race and I benefited from some of them. Thus,
I came home third. My car was already much better than yesterday, but
we still have work to do. Nevertheless, I am happy with my podium
finish in my home race”.
Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series
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