There can’t be many race meetings when you achieve two podium finishes, two pole positions and receive the ‘Driver of the Day’ award and yet leave feeling bitterly disappointed. Yet that is exactly how Max felt after the Silverstone rounds of the British International F3 Series, as a gearbox problem robbed him of a very probable victory.
The weekend had started brilliantly with the 18 year-old taking pole position for both of the races. He led the second race for 14 of the 18 laps before the problem intervened and he dropped down to finish 3rd. That followed a 2nd place finish in the day’s first race after he was beaten off the line at the start.
In qualifying on Saturday Max continued his excellent run of form taking both pole positions;
“I’m really happy to have got pole for both races”, he said, “Even on my quickest lap I made a mistake going into Abbey, so I think we could have been even quicker in the second qualifying session, but I’m still pleased that we’ve confirmed the pace we had in the first session. We also managed to do some quick times with fewer laps than most drivers, so my tyres will be in better condition for tomorrow. The car felt really good so hopefully we can continue this form with some great results in the races.”
Starting race one from pole, Max made a good start, but was passed by second placed man - Renger Van der Zande who took the lead off the line. Max stayed close, but couldn’t find a way through at Club and tucked in behind the Dutchman. The 18 year- old kept the leader under constant pressure throughout the race however, finishing just 0.4 seconds behind after 18 laps to equal his best ever result in an F3 car.
“Whenever I closed right up on him it upset the aero on my car and with it sliding more it was hurting my front tyres,” he commented after the race. “I decided to just sit back at a point where my car still worked well and wait to see if he made a mistake, he didn’t so it stayed the same for the whole race.”
His second podium finish of the day came just a few hours later, but this time Max was visibly upset as he accepted his trophy for 3rd place and also the weekend’s Driver of the Day award. Afterwards he explained what had happened.
“I nearly had the perfect race. I made a great start and I knew with the pace we had that Dan wouldn’t be able to pass me. I thought I had it all under control until I had a problem getting the car into fifth and I think a lost about a second which allowed Dan to get past me. Then I think the adrenalin went and I didn’t realise how close Ricky Christodoulou was to me so we lost second as well. Obviously I’m gutted”
Max had shown consistent pace all weekend and should have taken his first win, but that will now have to wait for another day, surely not far away. His points haul from the weekend, being the only driver to record two podium finishes, did lift him up to 4th place overall in the championship points standings and his next opportunity to close the gap to the top will come at Rockingham in four weeks time.
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