Podium position for Leclerc, Giovinazzi at top of leader boardThird place for Charles Leclerc in race three at Monza Park
Antonio Giovinazzi extends overall lead by 0.5 points
Two race stoppages and numerous collisions over fourth weekend of Formula 3 European Championship
Charles Leclerc of Monaco (Van Amersfoort Racing) proved to be the best Volkswagen driver in Monza, finishing third in the third race at Monza Park during the fourth weekend of racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. There were some turbulent results and turns of event on the famous Grand Prix track – races two and three were both interrupted by the organisers due to accidents. The up-and-coming drivers fortunately remained unharmed. The Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), who had clinched podium positions in all nine races in the Formula 3 European Championship before the Monza weekend, finished in fourth place twice at his home event and has therefore extended his overall lead.
The third race at Sunday lunchtime was stopped after just eight laps following an accident. Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden (Dallara-Mercedes), won not only the first two races held on Saturday, but also race number three, to collect the 12.5 points awarded due to the race being stopped. Leclerc finished in third place, followed by Giovinazzi in fourth. There were three safety car phases in the second race on Saturday evening and this race was likewise stopped. Leclerc, who started in second place, had a collision with the Brit Jake Dennis (Dallara-Mercedes) on the very first chicane. Leclerc’s front left wheel suspension got bent, bringing the race to an end for the man from Monaco. His Italian adversary Giovinazzi likewise failed to score any points in this race after colliding with Lance Stroll (CDN) on the fast Curva Grande. The other drivers ‘powered by Volkswagen’ in the top ten: Gustavo Menezes (USA, Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) in fifth place, George Russell (GB, Carlin) in sixth place and Markus Pommer of Germany (Motopark) in eighth place.
Giovinazzi and Leclerc finished the first race on Saturday morning in fourth and fifth place respectively – they both made the most of a driver error on the part of Raoul Hyman (Dallara-Mercedes) to overtake the South African on the final lap. In all, the up-and-coming drivers of a 225 hp engine made in Wolfsburg racked up a tally of one podium position and eleven top ten finishes in Monza. Giovinazzi maintains his overall lead on 182 points, ahead of Leclerc on 166.5. Leclerc’s spoils in Monza fell short of the Italian’s by a mere 0.5 points. Russell is in fifth place on 68 points, while Albon is ninth on 50 points. The next racing weekend is in Spa-Francorchamps (B) on 19 to 21 June.
Quotes, FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Monza
Charles Leclerc (MC), Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara Volkswagen #7“I am happy to be back on the podium, even though third place is not what I had been dreaming of. In this race, I particularly was having problems on the straight. When Jake overtook me, I wanted to follow in his slipstream. Unfortunately, the race then was stopped early.”
Overall standings after 12 out of 33 races, FIA Formula 3 European Championship
1. Antonio Giovinazzi, 182 points; 2. Charles Leclerc, 166,5; 3. Felix Rosenqvist, 160; 4. Jake Dennis, 129; 5. George Russell, 68; 6. Maximilian Günther, 64,5; 7. Mikkel Jensen, 53,5; 8. Lance Stroll, 52; 9. Alexander Albon, 50; 10. Gustavo Menezes, 35; 11. Brandon Maisano, 30; 12. Markus Pommer, 28; 13. Arjun Maini, 23; 14. Santino Ferrucci, 20; 15. Callum Ilott, 14; 16. Alessio Lorandi, 14; 17. Pietro Fittipaldi, 11; 18. Raoul Hyman, 8,5; 19. Sam Macleod, 2.
