F3 Euro Series: Charles Leclerc opens his winning account at Silverstone.

Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing) is the winner of the third FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship season race. Thus, the 17-year-old Monegasque became the second rookie driver to win a race at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit this weekend, with George Russell (Carlin) having won the second race the day before. Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) came second to score his third podium finish from as many races over the weekend and starts his homeward journey to Italy as points’ leader in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings. The best-placed driver on home soil in the only British round of this year’s FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship, Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam) finished third.

At the start, Charles Leclerc converted his first place on the grid into the race lead and led the field into the first corner. Antonio Giovinazzi and Gustavo Menezes (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) followed behind him. An error by Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam) saw the safety car deployed for the first time. After the restart, the order at the front of the field remained unchanged. Initially, Leclerc was about one second clear of his rivals, while Menezes had to let the duo in front pull away. Even though Giovinazzi managed to reduce the gap a little bit later on, he wasn’t able to challenge Leclerc. Eventually, the Van Amersfoort Racing rookie driver won with a margin of 0.44 seconds.

For a long time, Menezes drove an untroubled race in third place in front of Jake Dennis, Alexander Albon (Signature) and George Russell. After the second safety car intervention, the result of a spin by Pietro Fittipaldi (Fortec Motorsports), Dennis got a chance to attack the American with Brazilian roots and went past to take third place. George Russell, Alexander Albon, Markus Pommer (Motopark), Brandon Maïsano (Prema Powerteam), Callum Ilott (Carlin) and Mikkel Jensen (Mücke Motorsport) completed the top ten.

Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing): “My start wasn’t the best, but at least I was able to keep my position. After that, I managed to open a slight gap until I got a warning for high oil temperature in my cockpit and for a while, I didn’t know what to do. Antonio closed up, but he couldn’t overtake me. Of course, I didn’t really expect to win a race on my first weekend of racing straight away, but things were already going quite well in pre-season testing”.

Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “I am really happy with my score of three podium finishes this weekend. During the race, I tried to put Charles under pressure to force him into a mistake, but he drove really well and didn’t give me any opportunity to overtake”.

Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam): “I was in fourth place for a long time, but then Gustavo Menezes suddenly slowed down in front of me. I had to do my utmost to avoid him, but managed. I am really happy with two podium finishes from the first race weekend of the season. For me, this was a considerably better start of the season than last year”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Felix Rosenqvist claims first pole position of the year.

Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam, 1:51s007) claimed the first pole position of the new FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship season. At the 5.901 kilometres long Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, the 23-year-old stalwart ended up ahead of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:51s274), who was second. Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam, 1:51s332) was the best-placed British driver in third place in front of his compatriot George Russell (Carlin, 1:51s652), who emerged as the fastest rookie driver in first qualifying.

Felix Rosenqvist moved up to the top of the time sheets with eight minutes remaining, claiming first place from Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:51s685) who was leading the Qualifying until then. In Rosenqvist’s slipstream, the Swede’s team-mate Jake Dennis also came to the fore and was second for a while. Later on, the Brit lost that position again two Antonio Giovinazzi. After that, the order in front remained unchanged until the end of the session. Thus, Rosenqvist claimed his first pole position in the 2015 FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship.

Behind the two best-placed rookie drivers George Russell and Charles Leclerc, Brandon Maïsano (Prema Powerteam, 1:51s768) was classified sixth. The Frenchman, who is contesting his maiden FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship season, had topped the time sheets in free practice on Friday morning. Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver Alexander Albon (Signature, 1:51s792) from Thailand, Canadian Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam, 1:52s066) and German Markus Pommer (Motopark, 1:52s113) ended up in seventh to ninth place respectively. Thus, Pommer scored the first top ten result in the first-ever FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship qualifying session for his team Motopark. Brit Callum Ilott (Carlin, 1:52s113), a member of the Red Bull junior team, was classified tenth behind Pommer.

Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam): “For our team, things were already going quite well in free practice, because all the Prema Powerteam drivers were within the top six. Our performance was already pretty good. In qualifying, the main thing was to find a lap without too much traffic and then push it to the limit on this lap, in which I succeeded. Surprisingly, my first lap was also the fastest. Starting off the season with a pole position is always nice”.

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen on top after second day of testing at Imola.

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

F3 Euro Series: Jake Dennis on top after first day of testing at Imola.

British driver Jake Dennis (Carlin, 1:36s808) came out on top at the end of the first encounter of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship after the summer break. On the opening day of the official mid-season test, the rookie driver was 0s027 seconds faster than Lucas Auer (Mücke Motorsport, 1:36s835). Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:36s874) and Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport, 1:36s007) were classified third and fourth at the 4.909 kilometres long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.

Jake Dennis only set his fastest lap time in the final minute of the test day and was very happy afterwards: “Today, we ran through our program and we found some things that worked well, but others that didn’t. Eventually, I managed to be in front with fresh tyres. The lap certainly wasn’t perfect, but I am happy with the day”. Just like Dennis, Lucas Auer also managed to move ahead of Max Verstappen in the closing stages. The Dutchman, who participated in his first-ever free practice session in Formula 1 last Friday, didn’t show any problems in getting used to his Fórmula 3 car again.“Somehow, getting from a faster into a slower car is easier,” the 17-year-old commented.

Behind the fastest three young drivers on the opening day of testing, Felix Rosenqvist, points’ leader Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s093), Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:37s316) and Jordan King (Carlin, 1:37s351) followed in fourth to seventh place. The Brit had to conclude his test day early following an accident.“The rear of the car slid out on me and I couldn’t manage to get the car in control. It was just a small mistake, but it left me sidelined for the final two hours”.

Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:37s450), Nick Cassidy (ThreeBond with T-Sport, 1:37s498) and Felix Serralles (Team West-Tec F3, 1:37s504) rounded out the top ten. “I am delighted to be back in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship,” New Zealander Cassidy said. At Imola and Hockenheim, he will be racing for ThreeBond with T-Sport.“Last year, I took part in two events and coming back to race in this series has always been my goal. Now, I hope to improve steadily and to score some good results”.

At the end of the day, Cassidy was the fastest of the six drivers who are competing in their first season in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship this year. William Buller (Signature, 1:37s704) was classified 13th on the comeback of both himself and his Signature team and was also happy. “It took a while for me to get used to the Fórmula 3 car again. After that, things went well and the team did a good job, too. We aren’t that far off the pace, but we still have some work to do to get further up to the front.” Only two places behind Buller, Marvin Kirchhofer (Motopark, 1:37s750) ended up 15th on his first outing in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. The German drove the car of the Motopark team that took part in an official FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship session for the first time this year.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen wins his home race.

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing), the son of ex-Fórmula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, scored his second season in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship at the 7.004 kilometres long Fórmula 1 circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. The 16-year-old Dutchman with residence in Belgium won the 13th season round from Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport), the nephew of ex-Fórmula 1 driver Gerhard Berger. Jake Dennis, (Carlin), claimed third place. Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam), remains in the lead of the drivers’ standings. The French Lotus F1 junior driver retired following a collision with Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam), on the opening lap.

Max Verstappen already moved up into the lead at an early stage and didn’t lose his position after a safety car intervention. The safety car was deployed on lap six after 16-year-old Santino Ferrucci, (Eurointernational), who is making his series debut this weekend, and Italian Antinio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) had collided and retired. Verstappen’s victory was only briefly in jeopardy on the final lap when Lucas Auer started an attack. Verstappen turned this off successfully and took the chequered flag ahead of his opponent from Austria.

British rookie driver Jake Dennis crossed the finish line in third place. The Carlin driver overtook Felix Rosenqvist, (Mücke Motorsport), for third on the final lap and got to climb on the podium for the prize-giving ceremony as a reward. The Swede dropped back as far as seventh due to a broken fuel pump. Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), claimed fourth place from Antonio Fuoco and Gustavo Menezes, (Van Amersfoort Racing), who scored his best result of the season in sixth place. Felipe Guimarães, (Double R Racing), was classified eighth behind Rosenqvist and also scored his best result in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship to date. Jules Szymkowiak, (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Jordan King, (Carlin), rounded out the top ten after an action-packed race.

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “My start was okay and I was third into Eau Rouge. On the long straights, I then had such a good slipstream that I was able to go into the lead. Until the safety car, everything went fine, but my car started to oversteer in the closing stages. The two final laps were really tough, but eventually, I managed to bring first place home and I am really happy”.

Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport): “My start wasn’t particularly good, but at least I had a good slipstream after that. In the next laps, I was able to follow Max, but I couldn’t attack him. That changed only on the final lap: I made a move on him, but it wasn’t enough. Nevertheless, it was a nice battle for victory with Max”.

Jake Dennis, (Carlin): “Moving up from eighth on the grid to finish third doesn’t happen every day. At Spa, however, this is possible. My start was already good, but I also benefited from the collision between Esteban Ocon and Antonio Fuoco. Thus, I was fourth after one lap already. After that, I was able to pull away from the driver in fifth place until the safety car came out. Eventually, Felix Rosenqvist had problems. I took the opportunity and took over his third place. Third place is a good result”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Tom Blomqvist vence a prova 2 em Pau, na França.

Tom Blomqvist venceu a oitava rodada do campeonato FIA de Fórmula 3 Euro Series, a prova foi disputada neste domingo (11), no circuito de rua de Pau, no sul da França. Com condições de pista molhada ele superou Esteban Ocon líder do campeonato que chegou em segundo, Jakes Dennis completou o pódio. Com os resultados Ocon chegou a 146 pontos e Blomqvist aos 92.

Devido as condições meteorológicas e pista escorregadia, a prova teve início com o safety car na pista, após 5 voltas a bandeira verde foi acionada e Ocon manteve a ponta, seguido por: Felix Rosenqvist e Max Verstappen, a corrida prosseguiu com boas disputas por posições, na volta 12, Verstappen que havia perdido terreno para Ocon e Rosenqvist saiu da pista e abandonou.

Logo depois, Felix Rosenqvist diminuiu a diferença para Ocon e atacou o francês mas acabou rodando e deixando a prova. Duas voltas depois, mais um incidente envolvendo: Tatiana Calderón, Felipe Guimarães e Edward Jones, apenas o piloto brasileiro permaneceu na corrida, mas a organização mandou o safety car à pista arruinando a vantagem de Ocon na liderança da prova.

Após o reinício, Esteban Ocon sofreu pressão de Tom Blomqvist que conseguiu ultrapassar o novato, o francês segurou nas voltas finais Jake Dennis, Antonio Giovinazzi e Dennis Van de Laar para assegurar o segundo lugar. Mitch Gilbert, foi o sexto, Lucas Auer, Felix Serralles, Roy Nissany e Hector Hurst, completaram o top 10. Abaixo comentário dos três primeiros colocados:

Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam com Carlin): “Estou muito feliz por ter vencido esta corrida. Foi a primeira vez para nós em uma pista molhada neste fim de semana, achei que chegaria em terceiro, embora Ocon tivesse um dano em seu carro, ultrapassá-lo após a relargada não foi uma tarefa fácil”.

Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam): “Estou um pouco desapontado, porque poderia ter tido um resultado melhor. Minha suspensão ficou danificada pelo toque com Rosenqvist, poderia ter sido pior, portanto, eu não tinha condições de manter a posição após a saída do safety car”.

Jake Dennis, (Carlin): “Esta foi a minha primeira vez dirigindo um carro de Fórmula 3 em uma pista molhada, acho que eu não fui tão ruim. As vezes manter o carro na pista é tarefa complicada, mas conquistar meu primeiro pódio em uma corrida com essa em Pau foi ótimo”.

Fotos: FIA F3 Euro Series - divulgação