One first place, one second place: Charles Leclerc new leader in the Formula 3 European ChampionshipUnlucky: Antonio Giovinazzi picks up just two points on the "Ardennes roller coaster"Powered by Volkswagen on the podium: Albon, Sette Câmara and Russell
He was the man of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Spa-Francorchamps: Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing) won race one in Belgium, secured second place in the third race and moved to the top of the table in the most important junior race series in Europe. Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) on the other hand was unlucky: The Italian was leading race one when he was forced to retire. In race three and while he was in third place, a broken front wing forced him to pit one lap before the end, which saw him ranked 15th at the end of the race. Only two points from an altogether turbulent weekend in the Ardennes saw Giovinazzi lose the overall lead. However, Alexander Albon (T, Signature), Sérgio Sette Câmara (BR, Motopark) and George Russell (GB, Carlin) were delighted as they each finished third on the podium.
The third race in the junior series on Sunday afternoon was characterised by wet conditions and fierce battles for the top spot. Carlin driver Tatiana Calderón (CO) was sensational as she was up there fighting for the lead and clocked up some kilometres of leading a race. The Colombian took the lead on the fifth lap since she had the advantage of rain tyres at this point. Unfortunately this didn't result in tangible success: Calderón, who is yet to pick up any points this season, dropped right down the field on the drying track towards the end of the race and finished 18th. Giovinazzi, who damaged his front wing in a duel, also failed to pick up any points. Leclerc benefitted from this; after starting in ninth, he crossed the finish line in second place behind winner Jake Dennis (GB, Dallara-Mercedes). In third place was Russell, who won the second race at the first weekend of the season in Silverstone "powered by Volkswagen".
Two debuts and a new championship leader
Sette Câmara celebrated a debut in race 2: With third place, the Brazilian bagged himself and his team Motopark their first podium position – making him the top Volkswagen driver in the second race. There was a moment of terror on the tenth lap: Gustavo Menezes (USA, Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) flipped his car entering "Les Combes" after he was unable to avoid contact with Brandon Maïsano (Dallara-Mercedes) at top speed. Menezes was able to get out of the car unaided, but was taken to the track hospital for an examination and didn't compete in the third race. The accident resulted in a third safety car period, which brought the junior drivers to the end of the race. Leclerc and Giovinazzi, who started the race from fifth and seventh on the grid respectively, finished in sixth and ninth.
The first race on Saturday morning also saw plenty of changes at the front and pure action on the "Ardennes roller coaster". At the start, Giovinazzi who started in third took the lead before "La Source". Three laps before the end, the Italian and Felix Rosenqvist (S, Dallara-Mercedes) came into contact in a duel. Giovinazzi suffered tyre damage and was forced to retire his Dallara-Volkswagen. This left the path clear for Leclerc, who won ahead of Rosenqvist. Rookie Albon finished in third, seeing him get his first podium finish in the Formula 3 European Championship and gift his team Signature their first top 3 finish since their return to the series.
Spa-Francorchamps saw the junior drivers with the 225 hp engine from Wolfsburg at the rear pick up one win, five podium finishes and 14 top 10 results overall. In the overall standings, Leclerc leads with 217.5 points, followed by Dennis (189) and Rosenqvist (188). With 184 points, Giovinazzi is now fourth overall. But the Italian will have the opportunity to make up lost ground this weekend in "Franconian Monaco": The junior drivers will race at the Norisring (D) from 26 to 28 June.
Quotes, FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Spa
Charles Leclerc (MC), Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara Volkswagen #7"That was a positive weekend, which I wasn't really expecting after the complicated qualifying we faced on Friday. My car and my pace were good, but we were unlucky with the red flag in the second qualifying. So I knew that the races would be complicated – but a lot can happen in Spa. I had some clean races, I avoided trouble and attacked at the right time. So I added a win and a second place to my podium collection and I'm very happy about that. The team did a great job the whole weekend and we take the lead in the drivers' championship, which is a very nice feeling. I look forward to achieving more strong results at the Norisring next weekend."
Overall standings after 15 out of 33 races, FIA Formula 3 European Championship
1. Charles Leclerc, 217,5 points; 2. Jake Dennis, 189; 3. Felix Rosenqvist, 188; 4. Antonio Giovinazzi, 184; 5. George Russell, 91; 6. Maximilian Günther, 74,5; 7. Alexander Albon, 67; 8. Mikkel Jensen, 59,5; 9. Lance Stroll, 52; 10. Santino Ferrucci, 50; 11. Brandon Maisano, 50; 12. Gustavo Menezes, 35; 13. Markus Pommer, 28; 14. Callum Ilott, 26; 15. Arjun Maini, 23; 16. Alessio Lorandi, 22; 17. Pietro Fittipaldi, 16; 18. Sérgio Sette Câmara, 15; 19. Raoul Hyman, 12,5; 20. Dorian Boccolacci, 10; 21. Sam Macleod, 2; 22. Fabian Schiller, 2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Results, FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Spa Race 1 01. Charles Leclerc (MC), Dallara-Volkswagen 16 laps in 35m 35.057s 02. Felix Rosenqvist (S), Dallara-Mercedes + 1.511s 03. Alexander Albon (T), Dallara-Volkswagen + 2.651s ... 06. George Russell (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 7.388s 10 Alessio Lorandi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 22.600s 11. Ryan Tveter (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 23.133s 12. Sam Macleod (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 23.667s 14. Callum Ilott (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 30.581s 16. Sérgio Sette Câmara (BR), Dallara-Volkswagen + 33.597s 17. Arjun Maini (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 34.095s 18. Dorian Boccolacci (F), Dallara-Volkswagen + 34.417s 19. Markus Pommer (D), Dallara-Volkswagen + 38.648s 22. Gustavo Menezes (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 45.230s 24. Nabil Jeffri (MAL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 49.410s 25. Tatiana Calderón (CO), Dallara-Volkswagen + 49.958s 29. Mahaveer Raghunathan (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 1m 21.234s Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen DNF Race 2 01. Jake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Mercedes 12 laps in 36m 05.200s 02. Santino Ferrucci (USA), Dallara-Mercedes + 0.711s 03. Sérgio Sette Câmara (BR), Dallara-Volkswagen + 1.056s ... 05. Dorian Boccolacci (F), Dallara-Volkswagen + 2.393s 06. Charles Leclerc (MC), Dallara-Volkswagen + 3.397s 09. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 4.786s 10. Alessio Lorandi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 5.340s 11. Callum Ilott (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 6.127s 12. Ryan Tveter (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 7.043s 13. George Russell (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 8.163s 16. Alexander Albon (T), Dallara-Volkswagen + 11.651s 17. Nabil Jeffri (MAL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 13.973s 18. Sam Macleod (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 14.240s 23. Arjun Maini (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 20.145s 25. Tatiana Calderón (CO), Dallara-Volkswagen + 23.269s 27. Mahaveer Raghunathan (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 27.202s 28. Markus Pommer (D), Dallara-Volkswagen + 29.397s Gustavo Menezes (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen DNF Race 3 01. Jake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Mercedes 14 laps in 35m 15.713s 02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Dallara-Volkswagen + 0.885s 03. George Russell (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 7.198s 04. Callum Ilott (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 9.535s ... 07. Alessio Lorandi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 23.020s 09. Alexander Albon (T), Dallara-Volkswagen + 24.000s 11. Sam Macleod (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 26.208s 13. Dorian Boccolacci (F), Dallara-Volkswagen + 31.289s 14. Ryan Tveter (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 35.380s 15. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 42.488s 16. Arjun Maini (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 45.571s 18. Tatiana Calderón (CO), Dallara-Volkswagen + 1m 01.722s 22. Sérgio Sette Câmara (BR), Dallara-Volkswagen + 1m 53.710s 23. Nabil Jeffri (MAL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 2m 00.442s 24. Mahaveer Raghunathan (IND), Dallara-Volkswagen + 2m 11.271s Markus Pommer (D), Dallara-Volkswagen DNF
