Although
Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:36s553) has already signed
his Fórmula 1 contract and also has taken part in his first free
practice session in the category, he keeps on pushing in the FIA
Fórmula 3 European Championship. On the second day of the official
mid-season-test at the 4.909 kilometres long circuit of Imola, he
came out on top. Jake Dennis (Carlin, 1:36s836) followed behind the
Dutchman while Sean Gelael (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:37s049) was
classified third at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari ahead of his
team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:37s055).
With his
fourth place, Giovinazzi was the fastest of the three Italian drivers
competing in this year’s FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. “We
have tested and sorted out many things. I am quite happy with the
progress we have made on these two days and I am now looking forward
to the race weekend,” he commented afterwards. Giovinazzi ranked
just ahead of Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s071), the second
Italian in the ranking. Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing,
1:37s108) followed in sixth place and also drew a positive verdict:
“It was important and also necessary to have these two days of
testing after the long summer break. Now, we are all back in the
right rhythm for this weekend, when we are racing for points. My
team-mates and I had a good speed, our car was running well and we
are ready for the three races at this circuit”.
Nick
Cassidy (ThreeBond with T-Sport, 1:37s116), Jordan King (Carlin,
1:37s144), Lucas Auer (Mücke Motorsport, 1:37s162) and Felix
Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport, 1:37s273) rounded out the top
ten.“This track really is great fun to drive,” Rosenqvist said.
“But on a really fast lap, you are also on the verge of crashing
all the time. Getting close to the limit, but not over it is a huge
challenge”. The Swede was happy with his test day: “I think that
we made the car faster”.
Felix
Serralles (Team West-Tec F3, 1:37s341) was classified eleventh. “I
reckon that we have the speed to finish on the podium,” the young
driver from Puerto Rico said. “During the season so far, my car has
never been this good. In the summer break and with this test, we have
made a step forward and we are working into the right direction”.
Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s342) had to make do with twelfth
place, but the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship points’ leader
remained totally unfazed: “We just concentrated on completing our
test programme and we didn’t go for any fast lap times. We will
leave that for the weekend, when we are competing for points and
positions again,” the 18-year-old Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver
said calmly.
Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series
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