F3 Winter Test: Lundgaard dominant again on Day 2

Christian Lundgaard
Christian Lundgaard

Christian Lundgaard was the quickest driver for the second day running in Valencia post-season testing, setting the fastest overall lap time in the morning session, ahead of MP Motorsport debutant Lorenzo Colombo.

Oscar Piastri was fastest in a slower afternoon session for PREMA Racing, but his time wouldn’t have made the top ten in the morning, as focus switched from quick laps to race simulations and long-runs.

The second day of post-season testing began in drier circumstances than the first, as 16 of the 30 racers headed out onto the Circuit de Valencia at the first opportunity. Amongst those to head out were debutants Enzo Fittipaldi, Dennis Hauger and Oliver Caldwell.

Clement Novalak initially topped the early risers, setting the benchmark at 1:26.053, but he was almost instantly displaced, as Sebastian Fernandez returned ART Grand Prix to the top of the table, taking the time down to 1:22.364 in his home country.

Yesterday’s fastest man, Lundgaard, then began a two-way tussle with Jack Doohan for first place, as the pair exchanged fastest times. The Australian looked like he was in control, before Lundgaard broke the 1m 21s barrier for the first time and stole a 0.331s advantage.

Oscar Piastri, fastest in afternoon
Oscar Piastri, fastest in afternoon

Sitting behind the Dane in the order was MP Motorsport’s Colombo, impressing in his second day of testing with the Dutch side. The Italian was one of a few drivers to attempt a better lap than Lundgaard, but none of them could match it. Yuki Tsunoda, again testing with Hitech Grand Prix, was another to try and fail, eventually lining up behind both Lundgaard and Colombo in the morning’s top three.

For many of the teams, attention switched towards the end of the session and they focused on getting miles under their belts. The likes of Simo Laaksonen and David Schumacher both banked more than 110 laps between them, having missed the first day.

The afternoon session began in similar fashion, as a number of teams opted for race simulations, ahead of fast lap times. Oliver Caldwell, debuting for Trident, was the first back out on track and ran round in 1:25.805.

Calan Williams, Yu Kanamaru and Dan Ticktum all took turns at the top of the order in the early stages, running at around the 1m 23s mark. The British racer was the first to break that barrier, but was quickly usurped by Tsunoda and shortly after, Doohan.

Formula Renault Eurocup leader, Piastri, gave PREMA Racing their first taste of P1 in testing, wrestling control from Tsunoda and Doohan, who had continued to exchange first and second.

Tsunoda briefly stole the spot back, but a flurry of late laps saw Piastri reclaim his advantage at the top of the table when they crossed the checkered flag, with a time of 1:21.679.

Lirim Zendeli, Billy Monger and Max Fewtrell will all return for the final day of testing tomorrow morning at 9am. At HWA RACELAB, there will be a debut appearance for Sophia Floersch, while Andreas Estner returns to F3 at Jenzer Motorsport.

Day 2 morning session

POS DRIVER TEAM TIME LAPS
1 Christian Lundgaard ART Grand Prix 1:20.860 54
2 Lorenzo Colombo MP Motorsport 1:21.012 52
3 Yuki Tsunoda Hitech Grand Prix 1:21.146 53
4 David Beckmann Trident 1:21.167 58
5 Sebastian Fernandez ART Grand Prix 1:21.191 31
6 Jack Doohan Hitech Grand Prix 1:21.212 43
7 Theo Pourchaire ART Grand Prix 1:21.286 52
8 Linus Lundqvist Campos Racing 1:21.372 40
9 Jake Hughes HWA RACELAB 1:21.429 39
10 Bent Viscaal MP Motorsport 1:21.437 63
11 Jonathan Hoggard Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:21.448 42
12 Fabio Scherer HWA RACELAB 1:21.448 54
13 Devlin DeFrancesco Trident 1:21.453 44
14 Dan Ticktum Carlin Buzz Racing 1:21.454 44
15 Lukas Dunner MP Motorsport 1:21.454 58
16 Calan Williams Jenzer Motorsport 1:21.571 41
17 Oscar Piastri PREMA Racing 1:21.650 26
18 Enaam Ahmed Campos Racing 1:21.651 48
19 Simo Laaksonen HWA RACELAB 1:21.657 66
20 Federico Malvestiti Jenzer Motorsport 1:21.748 50
21 Clement Novalak Carlin Buzz Racing 1:21.751 46
22 Yu Kanamaru Campos Racing 1:21.880 34
23 Dennis Hauger Hitech Grand Prix 1:21.887 56
24 David Schumacher Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:21.930 57
25 Leong Hon Chio Jenzer Motorsport 1:22.034 36
26 Enzo Fittipaldi PREMA Racing 1:22.200 38
27 Joao Vieira Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:22.364 43
28 Frederik Vesti PREMA Racing 1:22.419 38
29 Igor Fraga Carlin Buzz Racing 1:22.493 44
30 Oliver Caldwell Trident 1:23.589 39

Day 2 afternoon session

POS DRIVER TEAM TIME LAPS
1 Oscar Piastri PREMA Racing 1:21.679 54
2 Yuki Tsunoda Hitech Grand Prix 1:21.687 41
3 Christian Lundgaard ART Grand Prix 1:21.694 46
4 Jack Doohan Hitech Grand Prix 1:21.771 42
5 Enaam Ahmed Campos Racing 1:21.773 40
6 Sebastian Fernandez ART Grand Prix 1:21.788 45
7 Bent Viscaal MP Motorsport 1:21.810 52
8 Devlin DeFrancesco Trident 1:21.826 49
9 Lukas Dunner MP Motorsport 1:21.896 29
10 Yu Kanamaru Campos Racing 1:21.918 41
11 Linus Lundqvist Campos Racing 1:21.975 43
12 Enzo Fittipaldi PREMA Racing 1:22.084 54
13 David Beckmann Trident 1:22.102 38
14 Clement Novalak Carlin Buzz Racing 1:22.138 35
15 Jonathan Hoggard Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:22.204 48
16 Jake Hughes HWA RACELAB 1:22.211 34
17 Lorenzo Colombo MP Motorsport 1:22.227 47
18 Dan Ticktum Carlin Buzz Racing 1:22.252 37
19 David Schumacher Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:22.271 62
20 Simo Laaksonen HWA RACELAB 1:22.272 57
21 Dennis Hauger Hitech Grand Prix 1:22.288 38
22 Frederik Vesti PREMA Racing 1:22.346 54
23 Theo Pourchaire ART Grand Prix 1:22.422 44
24 Igor Fraga Carlin Buzz Racing 1:22.513 43
25 Fabio Scherer HWA RACELAB 1:22.553 51
26 Federico Malvestiti Jenzer Motorsport 1:22.663 37
27 Leong Hon Chio Jenzer Motorsport 1:22.711 42
28 Calan Williams Jenzer Motorsport 1:22.762 42
29 Oliver Caldwell Trident 1:22.784 55
30 Joao Vieira Sauber Junior Team by Charouz 1:22.997 42