FIA Formula 3 European – Tom Blomqvist claims fourth season win

The race started with a collision involving Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam) and Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing), the two drivers who are first and second in the drivers’ standings. They tangled in the battle for the lead. Ocon had to rejoin the field at the back while Verstappen returned from the opening lap in sixth place. Tom Blomqvist inherited the lead from Antonio Giovinazzi and Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport).

In the following laps, Blomqvist and Giovinazzi, both racing for the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team, pulled clear more and more from their first rival Rosenqvist, who, in turn, had Jake Dennis (Carlin) closely behind him. Max Verstappen closed up on the duo more and more, too. On lap twelve, Dennis mounted an attack on Rosenqvist; the Swede briefly came off the track and Verstappen went past the two and moved up into third place. While the 16-year-old Dutchman then immediately pulled clear from Rosenqvist and Dennis, Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam), Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Jordan King (Carlin) closed up to Rosenqvist and Dennis. On lap 17, Dennis overtook Rosenqvist for fourth.
 
Behind stalwart Rosenqvist, who was now fifth, there was a great battle during the last few laps. Eventually, the finish order in sixth to ninth place Fuoco, Menezes, van de Laar (Prema Powerteam) and King. Lucas Auer (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), the only Austrian in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship field, finished tenth.

Out in front, Tom Blomqvist scored his fourth season win in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. With this result, he moved up to third in the drivers’ standings, toppling Lucas Auer. Blomqvist’s team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi finished second, scoring his second podium finish of the season. Max Verstappen joined them on the podium in third as the best-placed rookie. After 24 laps, Jake Dennis was classified fourth as the second-best rookie.

For Max Verstappen, joy about his third place in the 22nd race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season at the Red Bull Ring only lasted briefly. The 16-year-old Dutchman was given a five seconds’ time penalty because he had exceeded the track limits while overtaking Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam) and thus got himself an unauthorised advantage. In the race classification, Verstappen drops back to fifth place. British driver Jake Dennis (Carlin) is now third, fourth place goes to Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) from Sweden.

Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “I am happy and also slightly relieved because it has been a long time since I last was on the top step of the podium. As Esteban and Max collided in the first corner, I was able to move up into the lead. After a slight mistake, I had to be careful to keep Antonio at bay, but it all worked out fine.”

Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “On the last couple of weekends, we had some issues with the engine and the chassis, but now, things seem to be running fine again. Following the collision between Esteban and Max, I was second and I tried to attack Tom for first place. After ten laps or so, I still had a chance, but this attack on Tom was unsuccessful as well. Still, I am very happy with my second place.”